That lands.
He grips the handle of his basket, knuckles whitening just a bit. “He’s been… off,” Drew admits. “More than usual.” He says it like a man reporting a strange noise in the walls—unsure if it’s dangerous, but certain it shouldn’t be ignored.
I don’t smile. I don’t pounce.
“I think,” I say carefully, “that when Sebastian starts pushing people away, it’s usually because something matters more than he wants it to.”
Drew swallows.
We stand there with the weight of that sentence between us, the fluorescent lights humming overhead.
“Well,” I say lightly, nudging my cart forward. “I should let you finish shopping.” I give him a warm smile. “Before one of us pretendsto need kale.”
“Yeah,” he says, a smile blooming on his lips. “I should get to it.”
I start to pass him, then pause. “Oh—and Drew?”
He looks up.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
A beat of silence passes.
“I’m just letting him decide how close he wants me.”
I smile once more—gentle and reassuring—then walk away.
I know Drew will tell Sebastian about our conversation.
Drew is loyal like that.
Then I’ll wait for him to realize the house he’s living in is too quiet without me.
22
SEBASTIAN
I arrive home from work, my mood foul.
I’m already searching for Ivy when I step inside my home.
Which is ridiculous.
I don’tsearchfor people.
Especially not a beautiful, zany stalker who climbs over my deck railing and my balcony.
Disappointment settles in my chest when I realize she’s not there.
Drew is standing in front of the stove. He turns to me with a tight smile, then returns to reheating leftovers in a pan like he’s forgotten the microwave exists. The TV is on in the living room, volume low. A distraction. For him or for me—I’m not sure yet.
He doesn’t bring her up right away. That’s how I know he’s going to.
“How was work?” he asks.
“Fine,” I say as I shrug out of my jacket.
It’s a lie. But a functional one.
