Robin's expression softens, but before he can respond, I risk a glance at Silas. He's still reading, but the line of his shoulders is tense. The way they get when he's not actually reading, just staring at the page while his brain works through something.
Twenty-one. Tyler had to announce that I just turned twenty-one. In front of Silas. In front of everyone.
And Silas is older. Established. I don't know exactly how old, but older. Whatever we've been doing this week, the notes, the texts, the mornings reading side by side, that was before he had a number to attach to how young I am.
"I should clean the machine," I mutter, escaping to the back area.
When I come back out, Silas is at the counter, book tucked under his arm.
"I should head out," he says, not quite meeting my eyes.
"Oh. Okay."
He pauses, seems to be choosing his words. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks."
"Twenty-one's a big deal."
"So everyone keeps telling me."
Another pause. "Enjoy tonight. With your friends."
"Tyler's not — it's not like that. He just feels bad that I never go out."
"Still. You should celebrate." He heads for the door, then stops. Turns back. For a second I think he's going to saysomething real, something about the week we've had, the notes, the mornings, the way his name looks on my phone and mine looks on his. But he just nods, once, and leaves.
It feels like retreat.
"What was that?" Robin asks.
"I think he just realized I'm basically a child."
"You're not a child."
"I'm twenty-one. He's got to be thirty-something. That's a huge gap."
"So? Age is just a number when both people are adults."
"Easy for you to say."
Robin looks at me for a long moment. "You know what Toby was doing at twenty-one? Hiding in libraries, reading romance novels and sure he was too boring for anyone. You know where he is now? In love with an alpha lion shifter who worships the ground he walks on. Age didn't factor in."
"So?"
"So age doesn't determine worth. Connection does. And you two have that. I've watched it all week, the notes, the mornings, the way you both light up. That's real."
"Was real. Past tense. You saw how he left."
"I saw a man trying to be respectful of someone younger. Give him time to figure it out."
But I don't have time. I have a window with Silas that feels like it's closing.
My phone buzzes. Tyler:Don't you dare bail tonight
Then, a minute later, Silas:Happy birthday, Devin.
Just that. No book emoji. No smiley face. Just the words, formal and careful, like he's already putting distance between us.