"...Zero came."
"Zero came," he says. "Zerostayed."
"Yeah," I respond.
"They were—they were on their best behavior." Margot beams.
"Mm. Yes. I saw."
He says it pleasantly. He goes back to sorting.
Then his hands stop moving on the mail. He doesn't look up.
"I've been trying to figure out what changed."
"...what do you mean?" I ask.
"With them. The boys. Atlas takes time off work more—he didn't used to. Bane talks a little freer about his class, his goals. Zero is here, Max. Zero showed up to a family vacation. Zero stayed for the whole weekend." He turns his glass slowly. "It's not a complaint. It's a question. Something's been different since around when you came. I can't decide if I'm imagining it or if I should be putting two and two together."
The kitchen goes very, very quiet.
My heart is pounding in my chest. My palms sweaty around the cool lemonade glass.
Margot is watching me.
I take a deep breath.
Swallow.
What do I say?
What the fuck do I say?
Shit, I hadn’t considered having to have a conversation like this and lie to their faces.
Iknowwhy they’re different, but I can’t exactly say that, can I?
Oh yeah, your sons and I are fucking. We’re officially alphas and omega. It’s great.
I roll my neck and fake a gentle smile, trying to pretend like blood isn’t roaring in my ears.
"I think, maybe, they've just gotten closer to each other," I say. "I don't think it's me. I think it's—they've been spending more time together. They figured out they actually like each other, maybe?
"Mm."
"I think they're putting in more effort. On their own."
"On their own."
"Yeah."
He looks at me a beat longer than is comfortable. Steady. Unreadable.
I can’t tell if he believes it or not.
Then he nods once. Lets it go.
"Could be."
