We’d decided to talk to her together.
“I still can’t believe you agreed to this,” I muttered, glancing at Master Lee.
He set his cup down carefully. “I’d rather be honest now than sorry later.”
Tyrell nodded once, calm as ever. “And she deserves to know who’s interested in her before anyone gets attached.”
I picked at the edge of my napkin, suddenly less sure about the plan.
Because that was the thing.
I already liked her.
Not just because she gave super-duper cool hugs, or because she listened when I talked, or because she looked at Tyrell like she saw just how awesome he was.
I liked her because she was gentle. And brave for trying new things. Even if she was clearly in over her head.
Which meant this breakfast might make her run screaming.
“Hey,” Tyrell said quietly, nudging my knee under the table. “Breathe.”
“I am breathing,” I huffed.
Then I looked up.
Hope was walking toward us.
And suddenly being Big felt a lot harder than I’d planned.
Hope slowed when she spotted us.
First she smiled, automatic and warm, clearly expecting to see just Master Lee. Then her eyes slid past him. To Tyrell. To me.
She stopped dead.
Oh no.
Oh no, she was going to bolt. I knew that look. That was the same look I got when Tyrell told me we were going out to meet new people.
Master Lee rose smoothly before panic could fully bloom on her face. “Good morning, Hope. Please don’t be alarmed. We… may have surprised you, and that’s on me.”
She blinked. “I—hi. I mean… hi.” Her gaze flicked between us again, a little dazed. “All of you know one another?”
I couldn’t help it.
I beamed at her.
“Hi, Hope!” I waved way too enthusiastically for a Very Big Adult Man in a button-up shirt. “You look super pretty. Sorry we ambushed you. It was my idea.”
Tyrell made a soft sound under his breath. “Perry.”
“What?” I hissed back. “Honesty is good.”
Hope’s mouth twitched as if she were trying not to laugh even while she looked overwhelmed. That helped. A lot.
Master Lee gestured to the empty chair. “Would you like to sit? We promise this isn’t an interrogation, an attack or an ambush,” he added before looking at me pointedly. “Just… a conversation we felt you deserved before things got more complicated.”
She hesitated for half a heartbeat, then sat, smoothing her skirt like she needed something to do with her hands.
