“Good,” I say. “Really good, actually.”
Her head tilts, suspicious. “Reallygood? You never say that unless something’s going on. Does this have anything to do with Matilda?”
“It may do,” I admit, trying and failing to suppress a grin.
Her eyes go wide. “Oh mygod,you slept with her!”
I nearly choke on my drink. “Say it any louder, Jas. I think the people in the back missed it.”
She beams, far too pleased with herself. “Well? Don’t leave me hanging.”
“Yes, we’ve been seeing each other,” I say quietly. “A couple of weeks now.”
“What?!” she shrieks, and a few diners openly turn to look.
“For the love of— yes, Jas. Keep it down.”
She leans across the bar, grinning like a cat. “So it’s serious then?”
I sigh. “I don’t know.”
For a second, the noise of the restaurant fades. “I can’t stop thinking about her,” I admit, voice low. “I want to be near her all the time, but part of me keeps saying to step back before it all blows up in my face.”
Jas softens, her teasing gone. “Why would it blow up?”
I laugh dryly. “Because she’s my assistant. Because she’s applying for a promotionin my company.Because she’s… her. Kind, hopeful, uncomplicated. And I’m—” I swirl the whiskey in my glass. “—not.”
“You’re not as broken as you think,” she says gently.
“I am,” I reply before I can stop myself. “I always find a way to ruin things.”
She studies me for a long moment. “Henry, you talk like it’s already decided. Like you don’t get a choice in whether you hurt her.”
“Maybe I don’t.”
“Bullshit,” she says sharply. “You’re not that man anymore. You sound like someone tryingnotto break her heart.”
I stare into the amber glass, her words echoing.
“What are you trying to say?”
She takes a slow sip of her wine. “I’m saying you’re falling for her. The question is whether you’ll let yourself — or run away like you always do.”
I huff a laugh, shaking my head. “When did you get so wise?”
“I’vealwaysbeen wise, dipshit.”
Before I can respond, the front door opens and a voice calls, “You know, some of us actually pay for our drinks around here.”
Jas rolls her eyes. “Speak of dipshits.”
I glance over to see Lukas, her brother, strolling in with that effortless charm he’s always had. He’s the human embodiment of sunshine and chaos — all smiles, messy hair, and perfectly timed banter.
“Three times this week, Luke?” Jas calls. “What gives? You trying to move in or just scaring off my paying customers?”
He leans against the bar, grinning. “What can I say? I missed my big sister. Now that I’m back in the country, I’m making up for lost time.”
“Uh-huh,” Jas finally interupts, unimpressed. “You’ve seen more of me in seven days than you did in seven years.”
