“Oh, yeah? By yourself?”
I shift my gaze to the corner of my eyes, finding him smiling.
“I was catching up with an old friend.”
“And how is she?” I smirk.
He shoves me sideways. “Shut up. She is just a friend. Seriously.”
“Mmhmm. Okay, buddy.”
We stride up the few steps to the entrance.
“Since you’re so talkative, I could ask what brought you out here. Fighting demons? Or are you here on business?”
Touché, Elias.
I glare at him. “You’re right. Let’s not talk about anything.”
He chuckles as I scan the barcode on my phone. “I’m surprised the doors don’t just open as you approach.”
“I’ll kill you.” A chuckle slips free, ruining my scary threat.
He shrugs. “I mean, you could probably get away with it. Your name’s on the outside of the building anyway …” He trails off, then points at various places in the entryway. “Oh wait, and there … and there … there … there.”
“I get it.” I laugh humorlessly, feeling the anger from earlier return.
I’ve never felt shame from my name or wished to have something else in its place. But at this moment, hearing Elias chirp at me about it makes me feel like Kensington is branded on my forehead.
Like I’m nothing more than a legacy.
Like I’m nothing more than a pawn at play in this game.
Between school, hockey, and work with my father, there’s not an ounce of myself to spare. Maybe I am nothing more than the part I play.
“Dean.” Elias’s voice is stern and loud. “Hey.”
I shake the haunting thoughts from my mind. “Sorry.”
Concern uplifts his eyes. “You’re good. I’m sorry. I pushed too hard. I know you’ve been going through a lot. That’s my bad.”
My head shakes side to side. “No, it’s okay. I’ve just been”—I sigh heavily—“in my head a lot lately.”
“I’ve noticed,” he murmurs softly.
That grabs my attention. I thought I was hiding it well—at least well enough that no one could tell.
“Really?”
“Don’t freak out on me now. I don’t think anyone else has noticed. But it’s my job to, as your friend and as your captain,” he says with honor. “I’m always looking out for you.”
Something clicks in my head, an itch that I didn’t know needed to be scratched. But it’s finally clear to me.
“Did you coincidentally run into me tonight?” I question him.
He grins, knowing he’s caught. “If you’re implying I’m stalking you, I’m not. I really was at Flounder’s.” I can practically hear thebutin the silence of his pause. “Butwhen I was heading home, I got a text from Finny that he saw you going this way, and he knew I was out. I figured you might want some company.”
I sigh. “So, everyone knows I’m just a basket case right now?”
