Wesley clears his throat. “I was making sure she was okay.”
Now I look at him. He does not like it.
“She is sitting at breakfast,” I say. “What confused you?”
His face colors. “Honestly, your entire relationship.”
Natalie flinches, and my thumb presses once at her shoulder to steady her, claim her, and remind her without a word that I am right here.
“You lost the right to comment on Natalie’s life.”
Wesley’s mouth opens, but Lydia cuts in with a thin smile. “That’s harsh.”
“No.”
Natalie’s fingers rise to mine where my hand rests at her shoulder, and when she reaches first, I close my hand around hers.
Lydia notices. Her gaze sharpens. “I only think it’s interesting. A few days ago, Natalie didn’t have a plus one. Today she’s checked into the hotel with her boss.”
“Careful,” I say.
The word lands exactly where I put it, and Lydia’s smile falters.
Natalie squeezes my hand. “Jordan.”
I look down at her and see embarrassment, anger, and hurt moving across her face, but beneath all of it, something steadier is starting to take root. She is tired of shrinking, so I wait.
Her shoulders lift with one slow breath, and then she looks at her sister. “You don’t need to worry about me, Lydia.”
Lydia blinks, insulted by the loss of control. “I’m your sister. You didn’t answer any of my texts.”
“I know. Because they were ridiculous.” Natalie’s voice trembles once, then steadies. “You asked how I bagged someone like Jordan Richmond, then asked if I was blackmailing him.”
Something inside me turns very still.
Natalie keeps going before I can decide how much damage I am allowed to do at breakfast. “And then you sent three question marks, a bride emoji, and a warning that workplace scandals are tacky.”
Lydia’s color rises. “I was joking.”
“No, you weren’t.”
Pride moves through me, dark and sharp.
There she is.
Wesley shifts. “Nat, I really think we should talk alone.”
My hand tightens.
Natalie looks at him. “It’s Natalie for you.”
Silence moves across the table. Wesley’s face changes, and so does mine.
Lydia gives a brittle little laugh. “Oh, please. Since when?”
“Since now.”
“You never cared before.”
