Cade’s face didn’t change. “Then stop acting like the only options are hating her or falling at her feet. There’s a whole middle ground where you can be done and still care.”
Briggs made a noise. “Middle ground sounds like emotional torture, though.”
“It is,” Rider said. “That’s why none of you visit.”
Ryan glanced down the bar toward where Charm had been sitting earlier before she left with Bliss to help drop off the wing baskets. His face shifted for half a second, not soft exactly, just less guarded.
Briggs noticed because Briggs noticed everything he wasn’t supposed to. “Speaking of emotional torture, why were you staring at Charm like she came with a syllabus and a warning label?”
Ryan froze.
I looked at him. “Were you?”
“I wasn’t staring at Charm.”
Rider’s mouth curved. “You were absolutely staring at Charm.”
Ryan turned his head slowly toward him. “You really want to weigh in on Charm?”
Rider’s mouth flattened. “She was clear with me. I respected it.”
The bar went quiet for an entirely different reason.
Charm had been clear that friendship was all she could offer him. She hadn’t played with him or left the door cracked, but everyone with functioning eyes knew Rider’s feelings hadn’t disappeared just because she had been honest.
Ryan’s tone lost some of its edge. “I know. I’m not saying she led you on.”
“Good,” Rider said, “because she didn’t.”
Briggs’s eyes widened with vicious delight. “Wait. Hold on. Are we discussing Charm as a concept, or Charm as Ryan’s academic support girlfriend?”
“No empieces,” Ryan warned.
Briggs pointed at him. “Oh, good. He’s using Spanish now. That feels defensive.”
Ryan’s expression went deadpan. “She’s writing a paper.”
“Sure,” Briggs said. “And I’m lactose intolerant, but I still order motzzi’s because I enjoy danger.”
Cade shook his head. “Charm would eat all of you alive.”
“Not me,” Briggs said. “I’m lovable.”
“She’d politely end you,” Rider said.
Ryan took a drink. “She’d footnote the murder.”
Despite myself, I felt my mouth twitch.
Briggs saw it and looked far too pleased. “Holy fuck, the captain smiled. Everyone remain calm.”
“I didn’t smile.”
“You almost smiled, which counts as progress under current conditions.”
I looked at Ryan. “Take it from me, brother. Keep that shit in the open and the expectations clear. It’s all fun and games until you fall in love with a booty call.”
Ryan nodded, but I saw the seriousness in his eyes. “It’ll never happen,amigo. Herfamiliawould never handle a barrio kid from foster care.”
