Page 271 of Trick or Stalk

Three days ago, I would've laughed.

Today, I take a drink of coffee and sit there, morosely staring at the world.

“Cheerful.”

My eyes snap up. Wilder stands across from me.

I tense when I look at him. He’s wearing a black hoodie. Black jeans. Same dark hair. Same general probably knows where to hide a body aesthetic as his brother.

But where Hades always looks like he's contemplating murder, Wilder looks like he'd help and then make inappropriate jokes during cleanup.

I narrow my eyes. “No.”

His eyebrows rise. “I haven't asked anything yet.”

“Whatever you're about to ask, the answer is no.”

“That's efficient.”

“Thank you.”

He glances at the empty chair across from me.

“Don’t.”

“I was going to ask if anyone's sitting there.”

“No.”

“So no one's sitting there?”

“No, you can't sit there.”

“Right.” He nods. “Less confusing when you use complete sentences.”

I glare at him.

He pulls the chair out.

“Wilder.”

“I know. Boundaries.” He doesn't sit. “Can I have five minutes?”

“No.”

“Three?”

Despite myself, my mouth twitches. I immediately flatten it.

His gaze drops to my mouth. “I'm counting that as progress.”

“Don't.”

“Noted.”

I should leave. Actually, I don't have to leave. I was here first.

And I'm not letting another man connected to Hades chase me out of somewhere.