70.0

70.0
HARPER

The second Skye disappears up the stairs, the house feels… quieter. I almost think I'm alone so I can stand and think about how very foolish I was the past few minutes.

I lean back against the counter, staring at that stupid picture she pointed at... Damien and Xavier.

'Look at them,' she had said. Yeah. Look at them. Bad idea.

“Coffee.”

Woah. Damien’s voice is closer this time... too close... and I turn quickly, nearly knocking into him again. He’s holding out a mug, watching me.

“Careful,” he murmurs. "We don't want people to think that..."

I take the mug quickly. “People already think that.”

“Mm.” His eyes flick past me, probably in the direction Skye went, then back to me. “Your friend seems interesting.”

“She is.”

“And single,” he adds casually.

I let out a dry laugh. “Don’t.”

One brow lifts. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t do that thing you do.”

“What thing?”

“That thing where you pretend you’re just making conversation, but you’re actually...” I gesture vaguely at him, “...working an angle.”

He actually looks offended. Not genuinely, but enough to sell it. “Harper, I’m hurt. You think so little of me?”

“I think exactly enough of you.”

His lips twitch. God, he’s annoying. He leans his hip against the counter, crossing his arms, still watching me. “Relax. I’m not going to pounce on your best friend five minutes after she moves in.”

“Good.”

“But,” he continues smoothly, “you don’t get to call dibs on people.”

My eyes narrow. “I didn’t call dibs.”

“Really?” He tilts his head. “Because it sounded a lot like you did.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?”

I open my mouth... and nothing comes out. Because I don’t actually know. Because whatever that was with Skye… it didn’t sound normal. It sounded territorial. Possessive. Slightly unhinged, if I’m being honest.

“These are my guys, Skye.”

God. I cringe internally.