Chapter 83

Arthur

Several days had passed since that "sparring session", and I’d been swamped with work every single day.

The report blurred in front of me for the third time in ten minutes. I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Cecilia—still recovering at home.

My phone buzzed. Max's name flashed on the screen.

I don't want to reply at all. But knowing Max, he'd just keep calling until I did.

"What?" I said, not bothering with pleasantries.

"Arthur!" Max's voice came through way too cheerful for a Tuesday morning. "Guess what happened last night?"

"I don't have time for—"

"Alice cried while putting medicine on my bruises." He sounded absurdly proud of this fact. "Like, actual tears. She was so worried about me hurting that she started crying."

I blinked, processing that statement. Then understanding hit.

"Max," I said slowly. "You mean Alice has been tending to those nearly healed wounds from our sparring?"

"Yeah, and she was so gentle and sweet and—"

"And you turned it sexual," I finished flatly. "You got aroused while she was trying to take care of you, and then you made her cry during sex."

Silence on the other end. Then: "Yes, that’s exactly what I meant."

I leaned back in my chair, a dark satisfaction curling through me despite my irritation. "And I'm telling you right now—next time we spar, I'm hitting you hard enough that you won't even need ointment. You'll go straight to the emergency room."

Max had the audacity to laugh. "Someone's grumpy. What's wrong, Arthur? Work getting to you? You sound stressed."

"I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine. You sound like you need someone to check on you. Lucky for you, I'm a good friend—"

"I don't need you to check on me," I interrupted.

"That's too bad, because I'm the only one available." Max's tone turned smug. "Alice went to visit Cecilia this morning. Said something about keeping her company since you're stuck at the office all day."

I sat up straighter. "Cecilia didn't mention Alice was coming over."

"Probably because she didn't want you to worry." I could practically hear Max's shit-eating grin through the phone. "Your fiancée is being very well taken care of. By my girlfriend. While you're stuck in meetings. Isn't that nice?"

"Max—"

"Maybe you should take better care of your own fiancée instead of working all the time," he said, his voice taking on that particular edge that meant he was enjoying this way too much. "Just a thought."

The line went dead before I could respond.

I stared at my phone, Max's words echoing in my head. Your fiancée is being very well taken care of. By my girlfriend.

The rational part of my brain knew this was ridiculous. Alice was Cecilia's best friend. Of course she'd visit. Of course she'd keep Ceci company while I was stuck at work.

But the irrational part—the part that had spent the last week watching Cecilia struggle with basic tasks while I was forced to leave her alone during business hours—felt something uncomfortably close to jealousy.

I pulled up the video call app and hit Cecilia's contact.

She answered on the second ring, and the sight of her face—smiling, relaxed, clearly having a good time—made something in my chest both ease and tighten simultaneously.

"Arthur!" She sounded surprised but pleased. "What's up? Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine," I said, trying to keep my tone casual. "Just wanted to check in. See how you're doing."

"I'm great!" She shifted the phone, and I caught a glimpse of Alice sprawling on the couch beside her, a bowl of popcorn balanced on her lap. "Alice came over to keep me company. We're having a movie marathon."

"I can see that." I watched as Alice reached over and fed Cecilia a piece of popcorn, both of them laughing at something on the screen I couldn't see. "What are you watching?"

"That new rom-com everyone's been talking about," Cecilia said, her eyes bright with amusement. "It's actually pretty good. You'd hate it."

"Probably," I agreed.

Alice leaned into frame, waving at me with a grin that was far too knowing. "Hi, Arthur! Don't worry, I'm taking excellent care of Ceci. She's had water, snacks, and I even made her take her medication on time."

"I appreciate that," I said, and I did. Really. But there was still that small, petty part of me that wanted to point out that I was the one who usually did all those things.

"We should let you get back to work," Cecilia said, but she didn't sound like she actually wanted to end the call. "I know you're busy."

"Not that busy," I lied.

They exchanged a look—one of those silent conversations that close friends have—and then Cecilia smiled at me with that particular warmth that made my entire day feel worthwhile.

"I miss you," she said simply.

"I miss you too." I glanced at the stack of reports still waiting on my desk. "I'll be home as soon as I can."

"No rush. Alice and I are having fun." She blew me a kiss. "Love you."

"Love you too."

After we hung up, I sat there for a moment, staring at my phone's dark screen.

There’s nothing in the company—least of all Cecilia—only endless work.

Cecilia

"He looked sad," Alice observed, reaching for more popcorn.

"He's fine," I said, but I'd noticed it too—that particular expression Arthur got when he was trying to hide what he was feeling and not quite succeeding. "Just stressed about work."

"Mm-hmm." Alice gave me a look. "Or maybe he's jealous that I'm here and he's not."

"Don't be ridiculous. Arthur doesn't get jealous of you."

"Everyone gets jealous sometimes." She settled back against the cushions. "Especially when he couldn’t stay by his injured fiancée’s side, but I could."

I laughed despite myself.

She had a point, but I wasn't about to admit it.