“Nyah?” Caleb’s voice came through, clear and concerned.
“Just a minute,” I called, my voice thinner than I liked. I hid the gun, unlocked Lucas’s room, then opened the door. “Sorry,” I said, forcing a smile. “I was just getting ready.”
Caleb studied me closely. “Are you okay? You seem tense.”
Should I tell him? Would he think I was paranoid? Would he laugh it off, gently, the way people did when they didn’t understand? Would I regret letting myself trust him, even for a moment? The thoughts tangled in my head until I felt dizzy.
“No,” I said finally. “I’m fine.”
Later, I reminded myself. Not now. I made a mental note to ask Alex to scan the apartment again—for cameras, for bugs, for anything I might have missed.
Grabbing our jackets and bags, the three of us headed out.
Elle’s parents,the Rosarios, lived in Richmond—a lively suburb with music, food, and laughter spilling out into the Square on most nights.
Inside, I introduced Caleb to everyone. The family took turns welcoming him, curiosity and warmth flowing freely.
I chatted with Elle while her mother handed us plates to set the dining room table. Mid-sentence, my foot caught on the wrinklededge of the carpet, and I went down fast—dragging Elle down with me.
Plates shattered.
Glass clattered.
The room fell silent.
Elle nudged me. “Do you think if we wished hard enough, we could disappear right now?”
I burst out laughing, embarrassment breaking into humour.
We helped each other up and apologized while Karl grabbed his guitar, strumming cheerfully in a valiant attempt to revive the mood.
Caleb appeared at my side later, offering me a glass of red wine.
“That was dramatic,” he said.
“I never fail to surprise,” I replied, amused.
“I’m coming to appreciate how true that is.”
The night unfolded easily after that. The aunties pulled Caleb into dancing while the uncles demonstrated the steps, waving handkerchiefs with dramatic flair. Caleb tried to follow along, laughing at himself when he stumbled, and the room erupted in warm, easy laughter.
Near the end of the evening, a slowKonkanisong played.
I checked on Lucas, who was asleep in Elle’s old bedroom, and then headed downstairs.
Caleb was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, one hand outstretched.
I didn’t hesitate. I took his hand and let him pull me close. We swayed gently, his stubble tickling my nose. I caught Elle and Karl watching us, smiling.
“Thanks for tonight,” he murmured near my ear.
Warmth spread through me, deep and slow. He was too close. My pulse quickened. I looked away, derailed by the unfamiliar sensation pooling low inside me.
When the song ended, stepping back felt harder than it should have.
“I’m going to get Lucas,” I said softly. “It’s late. We should leave.”
The drive home blurred around me. The wine and exhaustion weighed heavily, and I drifted in and out until the car stopped.
