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What then?

Theo’s voice drifted back to me from our call. Stop negotiating with yourself and start deciding.

Dinner was a decision to be visible.

I got up, crossed to the window, and stared out at the street.

Quinn had just opened a door and waited to see if I would walk through it.

And I had.

Which means I’m already further in than I intended to be.

What gripped me wasn’t fear but anticipation.

I wanted to see him there in his own space, with people who knew him.

Quinn paused at the street door to the studio. “Do I look normal?”

I smiled. “You look like yourself.” He wore a denim jacket over a dark blue tee and jeans, his feet encased in the same boots he usually wore to Obsidian.

He narrowed his gaze. “That’s not what I asked.”

I squeezed his shoulder. “You look acceptable.”

“That’s not reassuring.”

“Will you relax? They know you exist,” I told him.

He blinked. “All of them?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I told them.”

His mouth fell open. “Oh God.”

I opened the door before he could spiral further.

Noise filtered through the door at the top of the stairs. I could hear Milo at the piano, and Liam arguing with Sebastian about tempo. Before I pushed it open, I took Quinn’s hand in mine.

“It’ll be fine. You have nothing to be nervous about.”

He stared at me. “Oh yes I do. This lot are your family.”

I couldn’t help myself. I leaned in and kissed him on the lips. “And they will all like you,” I assured him.

Not that I’d warned a soul Quinn would be there.

I opened the door and Theo was the first to look in our direction. His gaze flicked from me to Quinn, then back to me. He gave me a knowing smile.

Then the room went quiet as eight heads turned.

Quinn stood beside me, hands tucked into his jacket pockets, his expression bright but steady.

Theo stepped forward, his hand outstretched. “You must be Quinn.”