Fox, meanwhile, is glued to his phone, barely acknowledging the people around him.His expression is unreadable, detached.It’s like nothing touches him.
My stomach twists.
What the hell?
He’s here.Not dead.Not hurt.Just… hiding.Avoiding the apartment like it’s infected.Meanwhile, I’ve been spiraling—worrying, second-guessing, trying to figure out if I said something wrong, if he was okay, if something happened to him.
And here he is, looking perfectly fine—well, tired, maybe, but alive and definitely functioning.
I feel my face heat with a rush of irritation and embarrassment.
Seriously?
I had actuallyworried.Like a total idiot.I had imagined scenarios—him getting hurt, lost, in trouble.I even considered texting him last night only to realize I don’t have his number.
Turns out he’s just been ignoring the apartment.Ignoringme.
I look away, jaw tight.
Why the hell did I care so much?
He’s my obnoxious, infuriating roommate—not someone I’m supposed to lose sleep over.
And yet… I did.
And that might be the worst part of all.
“Look who’s alive,” Landon says, dropping his menu onto the table with a smirk.
I sigh and rub my temples.“Now I feel stupid for worrying.”
“Don’t,” he replies with a shrug.“You were just being a decent human being.It’s called having a heart.At least you care.”
I glance back at Fox again.He hasn’t looked up once.Not at Carter.Not at Annette.Not at me.
And I hate that itbothersme.
He’s my roommate—my obnoxious, arrogant roommate—not someone I should be worried about.Not someone I should care about.And yet, here I am, staring like an idiot, hoping for something.Anything.
Before I can spiral further, a voice cuts in, loud and familiar.
“Well, well, look who I found.”
I look up to see Blaze standing beside our table, his hands braced on the surface like he owns it.It’s been a while since I’ve seen him—or any of Fox’s crew, really—especially since Fox basically ghosted the apartment.
“Hey, Blaze,” I say, managing a polite smile.I’ve never had a problem with him—he’s always been relatively chill—but his proximity to Fox automatically puts my guard up.
“Why don’t you come sit with us?”Blaze says, nodding toward their table.“Been a while since we caught up.”
I hesitate, glancing at Landon, who’s practically sinking into his chair.He’s biting his lip, trying not to look at Blaze, and it immediately puts me on edge.
“Uh… sorry, I’m with my friend,” I say firmly, keeping my tone respectful but final.
Blaze raises an eyebrow, then looks down at Landon like he just noticed him.
“Why are you hanging out with this loser?”he asks, voice light, but the words land heavy.
Landon’s eyes flick nervously toward the exit.His smile falters.
