The way he said my name made something small and traitorous flutter low in my stomach.
"Good morning..." My voice came out slower than I meant.
Margot grinned wickedly. "He's making a smoothie. Look at this thing, it's like sea foam mixed with kryptonite. He won't tell me what's in it."
"It's a secret," Ryder said solemnly, like we were discussing state matters.
Margot grabbed her coffee and hopped down, tossing me a knowing look on her way out. "Good luck surviving whatever this is."
When she left, the kitchen felt suddenly smaller. Ryder poured the smoothie into a tall glass and pushed it toward me. His fingers brushed mine. I froze, just for a heartbeat, my skin buzzing where he'd touched me. His mouth curved into that slow, infuriating smile. I pulled the glass toward me, feigning indifference and asked looking at the strange blue-green color catching the light like sea glass, "Why does it look like something that belongs in an aquarium?"
"You once said you don't have a favorite color, right?" he said, leaning casually against the counter. "So I thought, why not make a different color smoothie every morning?"
I narrowed my eyes at it. "Okayy."
He grinned, sliding the glass closer, "Today's special is blue-green. You know, the color of healing. Renewal. They say it's the color of the sea — the Aegean specifically in Greek mythology — the place where heroes are tested and come back changed."
He leaned against the counter, his voice gentler now, "Heroes never come back the same, Dec. That's the point. The Aegean isn't just about danger, it's about transformation. They go through storms, monsters, entire wars sometimes... and somehow they make it back. Different. Stronger."
Something in my chest tightened, so I looked down at the smoothie instead of at him.
"Drink up, Ven," he said.
I frowned. "Ven? What do you call me that for?"
His mouth curved, a secretive little grin. "One day I'll tell you."
I raised an eyebrow. "So this is some kind of game now?"
"Only if you lose," he said, eyes glinting.
I narrowed my eyes, refusing to let my face give anything away. My heart might have been cartwheeling, but my expression stayed neutral.
"Stop looking like a cute rabbit," I muttered.
That made him laugh — loud, bright, unguarded. "You think rabbits are cute?"
I blinked. "Youdon'tthink rabbits are cute?"
"Not as cute as you when you're suspicious of a smoothie," he said casually, and before I could even summon a comeback, he winked and headed toward the door. Then he looked back over his shoulder, grin still in place. "You're drinking that smoothie, right?"
"I haven't decided yet!"
"Yes, you have." His laughter followed him out the door. I stared at the glass for a long moment, heart thumping, before finally taking a sip.
Of course it was delicious.
I went to get ready for work, pulling my hair into a quick knot and grabbing my bag, but my feet had other plans. Instead of heading straight out the door, I found myself wandering toward Billy's workshop — quiet, hesitant, like I could pass it off as coincidence if anyone caught me.
Just a peek, I told myself. Just one little glimpse. The door was slightly ajar, warm light spilling out. I could hear the soft clink of tools, the faint hum of music and Ryder looking gorgeous. I leaned closer, heart thudding, and—
"What exactly are we peeking at, hmm?"
I nearly launched into orbit, "Holy— Margot!" I gasped, clutching my chest.
She was leaning casually against the doorway like she'd been standing there forever, clearly enjoying every second of my mortification.
"God, you scared me!" I hissed, glancing back toward the workshop as if Ryder might have heard me. And of course, because the universe hates me, he was there — head bent over the workbench, a small, secretive smile tugging at his mouth. He didn't look up, but I knew he'd heard.
