Something was off.
Not physically.
Behaviourally.
“You okay?” I asked before I could stop myself.
His jaw tightened slightly. “Yeah.”
Too fast again.
Lie.
I leaned against the table. “You’re worse at this than you think.”
“At what?”
“Pretending nothing’s happening.”
That got him to look at me properly.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
Just… sharp.
“I’m not pretending anything,” he said.
I nodded slowly. “Sure.”
He exhaled through his nose like he didn’t like that answer.
Then his eyes flicked briefly toward Caleb, who was talking to someone across the room.
Not subtle.
Not accidental.
I noticed.
Of course I did.
“You’re busy,” Mason said suddenly.
I blinked. “What?”
“With him,” he added.
There was no tone in it.
Which somehow made it worse.
I straightened slightly. “No.”
Simple answer.
Clean.
