Elliot smiled again — satisfied.
“Excellent,” he said. “We leave in ten minutes, Seph.”
Then he turned and walked away, as though nothing of consequence had happened.
Only after he was gone did the room breathe again.
Sy stepped into the room behind me. He must have been there all along. Waiting. Dev and Jess both stilled, then stepped back.
Jess went to clean up the ashtray, refusing to look at Dev.
Kieran and Dev exchanged a look. Dev’s mouth tightened before he looked away.
I watched them closely, trying to understand why the temperature dropped between them.
“Dev.” I said quietly. He looked at me.
“I’m fine, Seph,” he said flatly, his shoulders tight. Then he turned and stalked out of the room.
“Little one?” Sy murmured.
Ash’s grip tightened on my waist.
I gently extricated myself before turning to kiss him quickly on the cheek.
“I’ve got to go,” I said.
Ash actually whimpered. I pressed my lips together.
“Ash.”
“But I like being with you.”
“I know.”
“Ash,” Kieran snapped.
Ash’s gaze flicked to Kieran, glaring.
“Fine,” he muttered. “Dick.”
At a sharp look from Kieran, Ash left the room, grumbling loudly.
When it was just Sy and Kieran, I rubbed my eyes.
“Are you okay?” Kieran asked softly.
Sy stepped in front of me.
“She is fine.”
I let out a breath.
“I’m just realising how much easier it was when nobody cared what happened to me.”
Both men frowned.
“Seph—” Kieran began.
