“It’s a conversation.”
Charm tilted her head. “Is it a conversation with remorse?”
“Yes.”
“Emotional vulnerability?”
Easton’s jaw flexed. “Unfortunately.”
“Potential romantic reconciliation?”
His gaze slid to me, and the look hit so hard my knees almost forgot their purpose. “That depends on Aura.”
Bliss sucked in a breath. “Oh, I like that answer.”
“You need to go,” I told them.
They both looked at me, and neither moved.
I turned back to Easton, helpless and mortified. “They’re not leaving.”
His mouth twitched, barely. “I gathered.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” He looked at the girls again, then back at me. His voice softened, but not enough to make it private. “Intention is everything. If your friends have to watch me have this conversation with you so you feel safe, I’ll have it with them standing right there holding pretzels.”
Charm and Bliss both sighed, and I rolled my eyes.
The teasing didn’t disappear, exactly, but something underneath it went quiet and careful. They understood at the same time I did.
This mattered.
This was Easton saying he wouldn’t make me choose between privacy and safety. He wouldn’t ask me to send away the women I had just gotten back so he could have access to the softest part of me alone.
My throat tightened.
“They aren’t here because I’m scared of you,” I said.
“I know.”
“They’re here because they’re nosy and emotionally codependent.”
Bliss nodded. “So true.”
Charm lifted one finger. “We prefer devoted.”
Easton’s eyes stayed on mine. “Then they can stay devoted in the doorway.”
“No,” Bliss whispered suddenly, grabbing Charm’s cardigan sleeve. “We can’t.”
Charm looked at her. “What?”
“This is actually a big deal.”
“I know.”
“We have to leave.”
