“You taste so fucking good,” I whispered—or tried to.
“Gross,” came from our right. Henry was attempting a disapproving face while still somehow looking ridiculously pleased for us.
Sebastian slipped an arm around my shoulders. “We’ll talk in a bit,” he told Vanessa. “Thank you for everything.”
“Good luck,” she called, already walking away with a wave. She shot me one last strange look before disappearing down the street.
My hand rested on Sebastian’s hip. “What were you two up to?”
“You know… work.” His attention—and his other hand—was already back on his phone.
“So?” Henry said, nodding toward the doors. “Food?”
I stepped out of Sebastian’s hold, but he tugged me back when I tried to follow his brother. “What?”
He lifted his phone, camera pointed at me. “Just a second.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile as he raised our joined hands into the frame. The shutter clicked.
“Did you just take my picture?”
He grinned up at me. “Am I not allowed to?”
“You’re allowed,” I said. “That was just kind of?—”
“Hey,” Henry called, holding the door open. “In or out?”
Sebastian’s eyes were glued to his screen once more, so I tugged his hand and pulled him inside with me.
The restaurant was nice—a regular spot for us, where they always tucked us into a table in the back so we could have a little privacy. Soft light spilled from hanging lamps, warming the stone around us, and the low hum of conversation made it feel like the rest of the world had been gently turned down. The airsmelled faintly of smoked wood and grilled meat as we slid into our seats, coats draped over chair backs, the cold still clinging to us. We settled in with drinks Henry had already ordered for all of us, because of course he had.
“So,” I said, glancing across the table at him, “finally got the permits?”
“Fucking finally. Just the finishing touches left, and we’re done. Opening date is February fourteenth.” He gave me a sly smile. “So you can push the Valentine’s plans back a day and be all lovey-dovey over there.”
“That’s fine by me.” I peeked at Sebastian, but he was still zoned out. “And Mateo?” I asked, pretending not to watch Henry’s face too closely.
His mouth twitched. Just a little. “Out of town.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Raúl has Loki,” he added. “I’m supposed to pick him up later today.”
“Wow. You’re being incredibly forthcoming.”
“Don’t push it.”
Next to me, Sebastian was still staring at his phone, his thumb moving in slow, careful taps across the screen. He had that focused look he got when he was doing something he absolutely did not want to be interrupted during.
“Are you going to join us any time soon?” I muttered.
He didn’t look up.
“So.” Henry smirked. “Oli and I were thinking about a quick States run, around March. Check on Dad. You two should come—and then we disappear somewhere warm afterward. I’m done with winter.”
“Do you have your phone with you?” Sebastian asked suddenly.
We both turned to him.
