“It’s what you meant.”
I exhale softly, stepping closer. “It’s not a big thing. I just need to grab something. I’ll be quick.”
“For what?”
I hesitate. Then decide honesty is easier. “It’s his birthday.”
Eli blinks. “What?”
“Today,” I say. “I just found out.”
He looks like that piece of information physically hit him. “He didn’t say anything.”
“Of course he didn’t.”
Eli huffs a quiet breath, scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah. That tracks.”
“I just want to get something for him,” I say. “Nothing big. Just something.”
He looks at the door. Then back at me. Then at the hallway that leads toward Logan’s office. “You know he’s going to lose his shit if he finds out I took you out without him,” he says.
“He’s not here,” I reply.
“That doesn’t make it better.”
I tilt my head slightly. “Are you saying no?”
He hesitates again. Longer this time. Then sighs. “Fuck,” he mutters. “Fine. But we go, we get what you need, and we come straight back. No wandering. No stopping.”
“I can agree to that.”
“And you stay close to me.”
“I will.”
He points at me once. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He studies me one more second, then nods. “Alright. Let’s go before I change my mind.”
The parking lot is too quiet. I notice it immediately. Not in a way that sets off alarms. Just different. Most places have a rhythm. Cars coming and going. Doors opening. People moving in and out with purpose or distraction. There are cars. A few scattered across the lot. But not many. Not enough.
“It’s kind of empty,” I say, glancing around as Eli parks.
“Middle of the day,” he shrugs. “Not peak time.”
That makes sense. Logically. I nod, pushing the door open and stepping out. Cold air brushes across my skin, sharper than I expect. I tuck my hands into the sleeves of Cobra’s hoodie, the fabric still carrying a hint of him.Grounding.
Eli comes around the front of the car, his gaze moving automatically, scanning the lot the way Cobra does. “Quick in, quick out,” he says.
“Got it.”
We start toward the store. My eyes catch on a car idling near the far end of the lot. Engine running. No one getting out. No one moving. Something about it pulls at me. Not fear.
Just…awareness.
I glance at it for a second too long.
