“No. You’re not.”
He pulls the door open, and I expect to see an empty sidewalk, but there’s someone already standing there.
A young guy with dark hair and wide brown eyes.
Lance gives him a nod. “Don’t let her leave.”
“Got it.”
I scoff, crossing my arms.
Then Lance is gone, and the kid walks in, locking the door behind him and turns to me.
“Um.” He clears his throat. “Hi. I’m Percy.”
I stare at him.
“Lance sent me.” He shifts his weight, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“Clearly. How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“So he sent a literal child to be my babysitter.”
Percy grins. “He said you’d say that. He also said to tell you—and I’m quoting here—‘she can be pissed at me later, just make sure she doesn’t leave.’”
A laugh escapes me. “Unbelievable.”
Percy glances around like he’s scanning for threats, and he looks so young and innocent that my anger dulls.
Sighing, I stand up, padding to the kitchen. “Do you want coffee?”
His whole face changes. The tension drops from his shoulders, and he gives me a wide smile.
“Yeah. That’d be great, actually.”
I wave him toward the table and start the coffee maker, studying him while it brews.
There are shadows under his eyes that don’t belong on someone his age, and the way he sits with his back to the wall and his gaze on the door is the exact same way Lance sat in that chair last night.
“So,” I say, setting a mug in front of him. “How do you know Lance?”
Percy’s fingers tighten around the cup. “He told me not to tell you that.”
“You always do everything he says then?”
“Pretty much.”
“Tough break.”
His lips twitch. “Lance said he liked you.”
The coffee I just gulped down lodges in my throat and I cough, pressing a hand to my chest. “Hedid?”
“Well, his exact words were ‘she’s got a mouth on her,’ but I think he’s only noticing your mouth because he pays attention. And if he’s paying attention, that means he likes you.”
“Hmm.” I’m not sure what to do with that, so I shove it down next to the email, Art, my father, and everything else I’m choosing not to focus on until after I’ve had caffeine.
