I concede. “I’m mostly fine.”
“I need you to try to eat before you talk to anyone,” he says, voice all command.
“I’m not a toddler, Dre.”
Andres's stare says,You were literally 28 yesterday; don’t test me.
I drag a hand down my face. “Okay. I’ll grab something.”
He stands, pulling on a pair of dark gray sweats—which makes my brain stutter—then reaches for my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world. There’s no debate anymore about what we are. He tugs me close and kisses my temple.
“You good to walk?” he asks softly, like he’s trying not to embarrass me.
I roll my eyes. “Yes.”
Dre doesn’t look convinced, but he lets me lead. We step out into the hallway, and the sound of the living room hits me fully.
Kai is on the couch, leaning forward, forearms on his knees, eyes sharp. Isla is beside him, one hand resting on her belly, the other holding his wrist like she’s keeping him grounded. Gael is in the armchair, relaxed posture but alert eyes. Adriana isperched on the edge of the loveseat, hair up, expression equal parts annoyed and worried.
The second they see me, all conversation stops. Like I walked into a room full of teachers. I pause in the archway, staring at all of my friends gathered together.
“Why do I feel like I’m walking into an intervention?” I ask.
Kai’s mouth opens immediately, but Isla elbows him.Hard.He shuts it with a grunt that makes Gael’s lips twitch. Adriana makes a sound that might be a laugh. Andres steps up behind me, his hand warm on my lower back.
“We need to talk,” Andres says.
I glance at him. “Thissoundsa lot like an intervention.”
Andres squeezes my hip gently.Behave.
“Sit down,” Isla says, soft but not optional. She points to the couch like she’s my mother and I’m five.
I stare at her. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
Isla’s smile turns sweet, and Kai’s eyes light up like Christmas.
“You heard her,” Kai says, pointing at Isla like she’s the law. “Sit.”
Traitors.
All of them.
Mumbling to myself about how this is bullshit, I shuffle over and sit, careful because my body still feels like it’s made of glass. Andres sits beside me immediately, thigh pressed to mine. His hand finds my knee and stays there.
Gael clears his throat. “How you feeling?”
“Like shit,” I answer honestly.
Adriana nods like she expected that. “Good. So you’re too tired to argue today.”
“Not likely. Why is everyone here?”
Kai leans forward again, eyes intense. “Because you scared the shit out of us.”
“I didn’t mean to?—”
Andres's hand tightens on my knee.
