Page 145 of Bend

“Yeah, nah. Forget I said that.”

“Too late,” Revel says.

“Didn’t ask you, did I?”

“You kind of opened the floor.”

“I absolutely fucking did not.”

Wolfe is laughing beside him now, shoulders shaking, which earns him a sharp look.

“And you can pack it in an’ all.”

“That one was all you.”

“Yeah, cheers for the support.”

Wolfe leans over and kisses his temple.

That makes it worse.

Thorne closes his eyes for half a second like he’s summoning patience from another fucking dimension, then shoves lightly at Wolfe’s chest.

“Stop giving ’em material, you prick.”

“You’re doing most of that yourself.”

“Traitor.”

I look down at my plate, trying not to grin, but it’s useless.

A few weeks ago, something like this would’ve gone completely differently. There would’ve been tension underneath every joke, someone trying to figure out where they stood and someone else pretending they didn’t care when they obviously fucking did.

Now Thorne’s muttering insults into his tea while Wolfe stands beside him looking stupidly pleased with himself, and somehow none of it feels dangerous anymore.

It’s still weird and still a bit messy, but it doesn’t feel fragile anymore.

That part catches me more than I expect.

The kitchen door opens before I can sit with the thought for too long, and Andre walks in already looking like he’s been awake for hours.

He takes about two seconds to read the room.

Bexley tries to stop laughing and Revel looks far too entertained.

Thorne is glaring at everybody, leaned against the counter sipping his morning tea with Wolfe beside him, with the biggest grin.

Andre pauses.

“What the fuck did I walk into?”

Sayshen immediately points at Thorne. “Apparently we’re not allowed to talk about it.”

Thorne gestures at him with his mug. “See? This is exactly the shit I was talking about.”

Andre looks between them. “I genuinely don’t care enough to ask.”

Revel leans back in his chair. “That’s disappointing. There’s actually a lot happening.”