“I went for a run,” I continue conversationally. “Cleared my head. Noticed the sunrise. Reflected on life. Came home to… whatever this is.”
Aurora finally looks at me. “What is what?”
I raise an eyebrow. “The vibe.”
Zane’s shoulders tighten a fraction.
Aurora narrows her eyes. “You cannot possibly detect vibes.”
“Heartbreaker,” I say, pressing a hand to my chest, “I once detected a man cheating at poker from across a smoky garage based on the way he blinked. I absolutely detect vibes.”
She tries not to smile.
Fails a little.
Zane mutters, “Drop it, Finn.”
Oh, absolutely not.
“Drop what?” I ask innocently. “I’m just observing that our resident brooding carpenter looks suspiciously well rested. And our favorite event planner looks like she swallowed a secret.”
Aurora’s blush deepens.
Zane shoots me a look that saysone more word.
I hold up both hands. “Relax. I’m not interrogating. I’m celebrating.”
“No one is celebrating anything,” Aurora says quickly.
I tilt my head. “So something happened.”
Her mouth opens.
Closes.
Zane exhales through his nose.
Aurora drops into one of the table chairs, still clutching her spoon.
Bingo.
I push off the counter and slide into the chair across from her, folding my arms.
“Okay,” I say, lowering my voice slightly. “Are we pretending nothing happened, or are we pretending I don’t know something happened?”
Aurora drops her spoon into the bowl. “Finn.”
There it is. The tone.
Uncertain.
I soften a little.
“Hey,” I say, gentler now. “I’m not mad.”
Zane’s gaze flicks to me, measuring.
“I didn’t think you were,” Aurora says carefully.
