Kai’s gaze flicks to Weston. “Cooper.”
Weston holds up his hands. “I’m not saying her name. I don’t know her name. I’m being respectful.”
Asher’s gaze flicks to me briefly—assessing—then back to his gear. “You coming to film at four?”
I blink. “Yeah.”
Weston groans. “Hale, why do you always remember responsibilities?”
Asher’s mouth twitches. “Someone has to.”
Weston’s eyes brighten. “Also, some of us are going skating later.”
Kai’s head snaps up. “Who is ‘some of us’?”
Weston grins like he’s proud. “I invited Harlow. Normal friendly invitation, and she said yes.”
Kai’s stare is a warning. “Don’t push her.”
Weston’s grin fades a notch. He nods once. “I won’t.”
There’s a beat of silence.
Then Kai’s gaze lands on me, sharp like he’s doing math.
“You have class?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I say.
Kai nods once, like that answers something in his head. We scatter—classes, meetings, film. The day turns into controlled chaos. But the second I step into the hallway, my phone buzzes.
Not the team chat.
Forum.
The little notification lights up like a flare.
LittleTooMuch — message received.
My chest does that stupid loosen-and-tighten thing.
I don’t check it yet.
I’m not desperate.
I am also, apparently, a liar.
By the time I get back to the apartment, Kai is already there on the couch with his laptop open and his jaw set like he’s trying to murder a spreadsheet.
He looks up when I walk in. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I say, dropping my bag.
Kai’s gaze flicks over me like he’s scanning for something. “You see Harlow today?”
I pause. “No.”
Kai’s shoulders loosen by half an inch. “Good.”
