He stepped forward then, finally taking the mug.His fingers brushed mine—brief, accidental—but it lingered longer than it should have.Long enough for something in my chest to tighten before I could shove it down.
He took a slow sip.
“It’s good,” he murmured.“If my enemies don’t get me, you will.”
Something about the way he said it—too casual, too real—twisted low in my chest.The reminder that there were people out there who wanted him dead.That he walked into that willingly.I ignored it.
He drank again.Said nothing.
Silence stretched between us, thick and loaded.
I leaned back against the counter, folding my arms like I could hold myself together if I just stayed still long enough.Then I went and ruined it.
“About before,” I said.
His gaze snapped up.Sharper now.More aware.But I didn’t look away.
“I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
He studied me like he didn’t trust my apology.Like he was waiting for the catch.
“It’s fine,” he said after a beat.
“You didn’t deserve it,” I pushed.
His jaw shifted.Tight.
“No,” he agreed quietly.“I didn’t.”
I let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
“Wow.That was very forgiving of you.”
“I’m not in a forgiving mood,” he said.“But I can be practical at times.”
That pulled a small, reluctant smile from me.
“Ah.There he is.”
He leaned back against the opposite counter then, mirroring me without thinking.Like we’d done this before and we couldn’t be more comfortable.
“Where’s Izzy?”he asked.
The question threw me.
“Izzy?”
“Your brother’s wife.”
“Oh.”I blinked, shaking my head slightly.“She’s probably asleep.Ever since she found out she’s pregnant, she’s turned into something between a bear and a corpse.I swear she hibernates.”
A smile slipped out before I could stop it.Soft.Unprotected.
Archie saw it.
“What’s that for?”he asked.
I shook my head, still caught in it.