Ember snorted. “No shit. I could have told you that just by looking at him.”
Lillith shot her a look. “You don’t even know him.”
“I don’t have to,” Ember said. “I know his type.” That made something in Lillith’s chest tighten.
“Yeah?” she asked quietly. “And what type is that?”
“The kind that looks at you like you’re something he wants,” Ember said, her voice going a little sharper, “but keeps one foot out the door like he’s already planning his exit.” Lillith went still, because that was exactly how Tank acted around her.
“Damn,” she muttered. “You got all that from a five-minute interaction?”
Ember shrugged. “I’ve lived a life, Lillith. You don’t run a club like mine without learning how to read people.” That was fair, but it didn’t mean Lillith liked hearing it out loud.
“He kissed me,” she admitted. The words slipped out before she could stop them, and Ember froze—actually froze.
“He what?” she asked.
Lillith winced. “Yeah, he um, he kissed me,” she stammered.
A slow smile spread across Ember’s face. “Okay, I like him a little more now.”
Lillith choked on her water. “That’s not the reaction I was expecting.”
“What?” Ember said. “You wanted me to threaten to beat him up or something?”
“I don’t know,” Lillith admitted. “Maybe a little.”
“Don’t worry,” Ember said lightly. “If he hurts you, I’ll absolutely threaten him.”
“Comforting,” Lillith teased. “Are you always this aggressive?”
“Yep,” Ember said. “You don’t know me yet, but I protect what’s mine, and that includes you now, since you’re my sister.”
Ember’s expression softened just a fraction. “Did he hurt you?” she asked. Lillith hesitated, because the answer wasn’t simple.
“No,” she said finally. “Not really.”
“But there’s more, right?” Ember asked.
“He keeps trying to push me away,” she admitted. “Like he wants me to leave him alone.”
Ember nodded like she expected that. “Yeah, that tracks.”
“It’s annoying,” Lillith said, even though that wasn’t the whole truth. “Like, pick a lane, you know? Either you want me, or you don’t.”
“And what do you want?” Ember asked. Lillith looked down at her hands, picking at a nonexistent thread on her jeans.
“I don’t know,” she said quietly. “I just got here. I just found you. I should be focused on that, right?”
“You should,” Ember agreed. “But are you?”
Lillith let out a breath. “No.” Ember hummed softly, like she already knew that was going to be her answer.
“Look,” she said, leaning forward on the counter. “I’m not gonna tell you what to do. You’re grown. But guys like him? They come with baggage.”
Lillith snorted. “Have you met me?” That earned her a laugh.
“Fair point,” Ember admitted.
