“Yes.” Said with no hesitation whatsoever.
I take a bracing breath. “Stalking me?”
“Guarding you,” he corrects.
“Without telling me.”
“We weren’t sure you’d want us to,” he says quietly.
“And still you did it.”
“Your safety is paramount. You may hate us, not want to see us ever again, but until we’re as sure as can be that nobody else is coming after you and that those two bastards haven’t managed to get bail and come for you, yes, we will be stalking you. Like it or not, we’ll be your shadows and make sure you get home safely every day.”
“Knowing you are out there, watching over me, helps,” I admit. “Was… was it Zach’s turn today?”
He nods gravely. “You noticed him. Well, it wasn’t really a covert operation. Is that okay?”
“Yes. Yes, it’s fine, but instead of hiding in the shadows, could you just… tell me?” I keep my voice steady. “Talk to me? Come walk with me? Then I won’t feel paranoid and think it’s someone else I’m seeing.”
“Fuck, I didn’t think we were stressing you out more.” He frowns. “Of course. I’ll tell the others.”
“And there’s… another thing.” I don’t look at him as I scoop out the ice cream. “The thing of the three of you. You three… talk? About me?”
I glance up and see his cheekbones flushed. “Well, we need to coordinate our shifts, as you called them.”
Oh. That was a simple explanation I hadn’t anticipated. I feel relieved and also slightly… disappointed? What’s up with that?
He draws one of the bowls and spoons toward him. “Are you okay?”
“Um? Oh yeah. Yeah.” I sit down and dig into my ice cream, barely tasting the chocolatey goodness. “Thinking, is all.”
“About me?” He winks and I stare at him. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s…” I huff. “I am thinking about you.”
“Have I outstayed my welcome?” He puts the spoon down, his green gaze on me. “For what it’s worth, I’ll never forgive myself for letting you go the first time.”
I lick the chocolate off my lips and force myself to show no emotions. “Okay.”
“It was the biggest mistake of my life. Do I still have that second chance, or have I?—?”
“You have it, Ace. I… I just need time.”
“Understandable.” He gets up, grabbing plates and bowls, his expression guarded. “I’ll wash up.”
I gape at him as he takes the dishes away, then jump up and follow him to the kitchen. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I only let you wash up back at my apartment because I had to let you believe I needed a cleaning lady. You never have to clean and wash with me.”
“Wait… wait. You didn’t really need cleaning help?”
“I’m paying a cleaning crew that comes in three times a week.”
“I knew it!” I crow. “I knew that apartment was too spotless. But then…” I take a step back. “It was charity. You gave me a job out of pity.”
“No. Never.” He turns around and my gaze snags on his rolled-up sleeves and corded forearms, those strong hands covered in suds. That’s sexy. “I wanted to help you. Because I could. And… I wanted selfishly to be around you.”
“You could have just asked me out!”
