Chapter forty-four
Arthur
I'm ready fifteen minutes early, which used to mean waiting. Now it means breathing.
Lindsay appears in the doorway with her tablet, wearing dark trousers and a cream sweater that doesn't announce itself but doesn't apologize either. She looks polished. Beautiful. Still herself.
"Pickup's at six-fifteen," she says, not looking up from the screen. "Security confirmed?
"Yes. Two-person footprint, discrete positioning. They'll hold back unless signaled."
She walks into the room, while still adjusting her bracelet. She can't quite get the latch to catch.
I move toward her, already reaching for her wrist. "I'll confirm Steven's aware we're leaving from here, not the office."
I fix the bracelet, and press it gently into her skin.
"Already done," she says. Then she glances up, catches my eye. "Unless you wanted to call Steve again?"
"No." I pause. "That was exactly right."
She smiles. Small. Satisfied.
I study her for a moment—the clean lines of her outfit, the way her hair falls in curls she spent the last hour arranging—and the words come easier than they used to.
"You look great."
She tilts her head, accepting the compliment without deflecting it.
I add, because honesty matters more now than polish, "I kind of miss the hoodie though. It made a statement."
Her laugh is immediate. Warm. "I could still change."
"No need."
"It's in my closet," she says. "Still bedazzled. Still obnoxious."
"Good."
She doesn't change. Doesn't second-guess herself.
Lindsay sets the tablet down and crosses to the counter, pouring herself coffee.
"You'll bring your sparkly bag?" The sequined bag is sitting on the bench near the door—rhinestones catching afternoon light like a small, defiant sun.
I gesture toward it.
She follows my gaze, surprised. There's a beat of recalibration on her face—like she's running calculations I can't see.
"Do you want me to?"
This used to be the moment where I chose for both of us. Where I made the decision and framed it as logic.
Now I answer carefully. Honestly.
"It's up to you," I say. "But I want you to feel like yourself."
She studies me for a second longer, then crosses to the bench and picks up the bag. Loops it over her shoulder.
