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I point at him. “You are inventing nonsense because your brain is under-stimulated. Does Dima not give you the D enough?”

Rei folds his arms, completely ignoring what I said. At this point, he’s heard enough of my bullshit that nothing surprises him anymore.

“You do like him.”

I yank my arm off his shoulders like he’s become contagious. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say with immense dignity.

“Sure.”

“I don’t.”

“Right.”

I lean in and squint at him. “You know, being this invested in my emotional life is weird.”

“And asking where Kento is the second you see me isn’t?”

“I’m gathering information.”

“About my brother.”

“About an enemy.”

Rei tilts his head. “An enemy you blush around?”

I freeze, and he gasps softly, delighted. Oh, this is catastrophic.

“I did not blush.”

“You absolutely did.”

“I am pale. My face does many things.”

“One of those things is apparently lighting up when Kento walks into a room.”

“Raaaai.”

“No, because now I’m curious—”

“Stop being curious.”

He grins, full and vicious now. “This is incredible.”

“I’ll kill you.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Why is everyone suddenly so confident about that?”

“Because you’re more bark than bite where people you love are concerned.”

My mouth twists. “Don’t get sentimental at me.”

He softens a little around the eyes, sees the shift, and, bless him, chooses not to push there.

Then, by some act of mercy, I spot Dimitri coming down the opposite end of the hall.

Immediate solution.