Page 125 of Deacon

Blue studied me long enough to make the real question unavoidable. “And you are?”

“Yes.” The answer was true.

Mostly. Mason and I had never been serious. He had been warm, funny, attractive, and available when I wanted something physical without complications. Then he started wanting dinners and more of me than I could offer. I ended it before either of us could pretend it was becoming something else, and afterward his schedule stopped overlapping mine often enough that I had wondered whether coincidence deserved the credit.

Evan made a thoughtful sound. “You know who I bet will not be fine with it, though?”

I kept my eyes on the page because I knew exactly who he meant. “He doesn’t get a vote.”

Evan’s brows climbed. “Cute. I’m sure hearing you’ll be working with a man you used to sleep with will make Deacon suddenly remember that.”

I looked up. “It should.”

Blue took a sip of coffee, far too calm to be trusted. “He’ll still have a reaction.”

I exhaled. “Deacon does not get to have opinions about me working with someone I used to sleep with. I’m pretty sure he didn’t sit around celibate these last seventeen years.”

Evan’s smile sharpened because he had heard the jealousy I was refusing to admit. “You know, that would sound much more convincing if you said it like you didn’t care.”

“I don’t care.” I made the mistake of answering too quickly, and both of them caught it.

“Lila.” Evan stretched my name into an accusation, delighted by evidence I had never intended to provide.

“Evan.” I returned the favor, warning him off before he could turn one careless sentence into a full interrogation.

Blue’s mouth twitched, but instead of rescuing me, she changed weapons. “Evan said that Jade has been telling him that Deacon has been coming by a lot.”

I stared at her. Betrayal apparently came in cardigans now. “You too?”

She lifted one shoulder, entirely comfortable with her role in this ambush. “I’m being supportive, offering up my ear.”

Evan nodded gravely, thrilled to have somebody else doing the meddling for once. “That’s a very polite way of saying meddlesome,”

“Thank you.” Blue accepted the insult like a compliment, which only encouraged him.

“I was insulting you.” Evan sounded almost wounded that she had failed to cooperate.

“I know.” She took another sip of coffee, ending that argument with the kind of calm that usually made Priest obey her too.

I looked between them and surrendered one inch. “He comes to see Jade.”

Evan made a skeptical noise loud enough to qualify as commentary.

“And,” Blue said, letting the word do plenty of work, “he seems to make sure he sees you too.”

I hated that they were right. Worse, they both knew enough to wait.

I folded my arms, refusing to give either of them more than necessary. “He’s persistent.”

“That is one word for it,” Evan said. “Emotionally relentless is another.” His grin suggested he preferred his version.

Blue smiled into her coffee, and I pointed at her. “You’re engaged to Priest. You have lost the right to find any of this entertaining.”

“That feels false.” Blue barely tried to sound apologetic, and Evan immediately chose her side.

“It is false,” Evan agreed. “Her rights are intact. In fact, they’ve expanded.” His nonsense pulled a smile out of me despite myself, but Blue watched it fade almost as soon as it appeared.

“How is it affecting you?” Her question landed without humor, gentle enough that dodging it suddenly felt childish.