Silas came back from the gala upset. The next day, he cornered Callum and me separately, with the same speech directed at both of us.
This arrangement is business. Tania is temporary. We can be friends with Tania. Nothing more.
Whatever happened that night changed the way she interacts with me, and I’m not complaining. I should ask her about it and make sure this isn’t just her rebounding off Silas’s rejection.
But I don’t. Because having her choose me—even if it’s because someone else pushed her away—still feels like winning.
And I hate that I’m okay with that.
Tuesday arrives, and Ben texts that he’s coming for dinner.
I’m in the kitchen when Silas walks through, already on his phone.
He ends the call and pockets it. “Ben is coming tonight.”
“I know. He texted me, too.”
Silas leans against the counter. “He’s perceptive.”
That is my brother’s way of giving me a warning. Maybe Tania and I aren’t being as secretive as I thought. Callum knows. And it seems like Silas also knows.
“Silas.” I set down my water. “Things with Tania are moving in a... different direction.”
His expression hardens. “Different how?”
“More than friends. I?—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” He cuts me off. “Whatever’s happening, keep it away from Ben tonight. Don’t give him a reason to ask questions.”
He walks back to his office without waiting for a response.
I spend the rest of the afternoon hyper-aware of every interaction with Tania.
Ben shows up at six sharp. Sandra lets him in, and he hugs Tania first.
“Hey, you.” He squeezes her shoulders and then pulls back. “Is that Evan’s hoodie?”
She glances down at the oversized black hoodie that definitely belongs to me. “Maybe.”
“You stealing clothes now?”
She shrugs. “It’s comfortable.”
I grin from across the room. “She’s basically moved into my closet.”
Ben shakes his head, but he’s smiling.
“I’m getting wine.” Tania heads to the kitchen. “You want some?”
Ben smiles at his sister. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Callum emerges from the gym, hair still damp from the shower. “Ben. You’re early.”
“I’m exactly on time.”
“Same thing.” Callum grabs a beer from the fridge and drops into a chair at the dining table.
Silas appears last, already out of his suit jacket, tie loosened. He actually looks relaxed, which is rare enough that Ben comments on it.
