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“Of course it does. But it’s a lot less fun and interesting. Let me make you one at least?”

“All right. One.” I can’t turn her down when giving in would make her happier. “But if you want me to keep these abs you seemed so fond of licking last night, you can’t feed me empty calories.”

As she laughs, I leave her with a kiss on the cheek and jog to the shower. When I return to the kitchen in clean clothes a few minutes later, she’s already setting two full plates onto her little bistro table, one piled high with pancakes. The other contains nothing but eggs and oatmeal. “Good timing. It’s ready.”

“Where’s the pancake you wheedled me into?”

A slow smile spreads across her face. “I got to thinking… Rather than putting it on your plate, I have a better idea for giving you a taste.”

Immediately, I’m intrigued. “Yeah? Let me have it.”

“In a minute. Once we start that…I’m not sure I’ll get to finish my breakfast. You tend to make me lose my head.”

I love that, despite my relative inexperience, I can rev and rattle her. “Okay. I’ll wait, just not patiently.”

As she butters her pancakes and pours the syrup, she sends me a flirty grin seemingly full of secrets. “So how was the gym?”

In the haze of promised pleasure, I forgot about Bethany. My smile falls. “Well, I met my mystery half sister. She accosted me in the parking lot, actually.”

Nia takes her first bite and, in mid-chew, stops. “What?”

As I dig into my food, I explain the meeting, Bethany’s behavior, and the reason she doesn’t want me to sell Stratus.

“She wasn’t interested in meeting the rest of your siblings?” Nia asks.

“Seemingly not.”

“But they’re great people.”

I nod. “The whole thing makes me more suspicious and less inclined to listen to her.”

“Why would you, since she’s on Barclay’s side?

“Good point. She said she grew up with him.”

“That bothers you, doesn’t it? Because he had nothing to do with you once you became an orphan.”

I swallow more eggs, then sip coffee. “Something like that. I’m torn between being jealous and pitying her.”

“And you don’t know which to feel because you don’t know the man well.” At my nod, she frowns. “That’s a lot to take in. What are you going to do?”

“Nothing she said changes the way I feel.” Well, not really. I don’t love the idea of anyone taking Stratus apart, especially as a fuck you. But is saving it for the sake of sentiment and pride worth a billion dollars? “If selling upsets Barclay, that’s not my problem.”

“It’s not,” she agrees. “You know…I’ve been giving that thought. I was against you selling Stratus at first, but maybe I was looking at it selfishly. I didn’t want things changing that much. I’m comfortable with our office and its vibe. Working with you has always been great.” She turns quiet for a moment. “But everything has changed anyway.”

I can’t refute that.

“And you’re looking at this deal more logically. It’s a lot of money. Why shouldn’t you profit from your hard work? You’re totally young enough to start over and do something else if you want. And if you don’t… Well, I don’t know. I can’t picture you lying around drinking mai tais all day.”

“No. I’d definitely find something to do. But whatever that might be, I want you to come with me. You will, right?”

She shrugs, looking somewhere between undecided and uncomfortable. My gut tightens.

“I think we’ll have to figure out where we’re at when you’re ready to sign the papers. We’ve still got a month.”

Gritting my teeth, I lean in. “You have to think about whether you’re staying with me professionally? I know our personal lives are in limbo but…”

“How can I still be your assistant if you’re my ex? Besides, you’re moving to Maui. If we’re not together anymore, Evan, I’ll be staying here.”