I huffed a laugh, dry and tired. “He gets… intense.”
“That’s one word for it.”
I crossed my arms. “Why’d you even offer to drive me if you knew he’d be mad?”
Vince shrugged, his voice dropping into something more serious. “It wasn’t about making him mad. It was about your safety. Going out there was stupid, Ms. Reyes.”
I let my head fall back against the seat, guilt sliding under my ribs. “I know. I was just so upset. Sorry you had to see that.”
He waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. You two always have something going on. Honestly, it’s almost entertaining.”
Despite everything, I cracked a smile.
He sighed. “Look, I’m not trying to get in the middle of you two. But from what I overheard… if I were in Theo’s shoes, yeah… I’d probably feel a little threatened, too.”
That made me sit up straighter. “Why? Because Marcus is a man?”
Vince shook his head. “No. Because Marcus is a man youtrust, that’s the difference. Trust is harder to compete with than attraction. And it looks like there isn’t a lot of trust going on in your relationship right now, so of course, he’s scared of losing you.”
I blinked, caught off guard by the clarity of his words.
He was scared.
That’s what this was really about. Not Marcus. Not even me.
“That might be the smartest thing you’ve ever said to me,” I said quietly.
“I’m full of surprises,” Vince smirked. “Also, I’m mildly terrified, so if I go missing tomorrow, please check Theo’s trunk.”
I chuckled, finally. “Noted.”
Back at the office, Vince’s door clicked shut behind us with a soft thud, muffling the rest of the buzzing building. His office was smaller than Theo’s—less intimidating, more lived-in. Papers were stacked in semi-neat piles, a record player sat in the corner under a window cracked just enough to let in a breeze, and the worn leather couch against the wall had definitely seen better days.
“Want something to drink?” he asked, heading toward the mini fridge.
“Okay,” I said, still buzzing from the confrontation, my hands folded tight across my chest. But the tension was already draining, inch by inch.
It was calmer here.
Easier to breathe.
He gave me a long look, then opened the mini fridge tucked under his desk. “Want a soda or something stronger?”
“Water’s fine.”
He handed me a bottle and leaned against the desk. “I’m curious, Carmen. Do you always pull stunts like that?”
“What do you mean?”
“Showing up to job sites in six-inch heels? You had every guy out there looking like they forgot how to hold a fucking wrench.”
I raised a brow. “Why are you always so curious about me?”
He shrugged, unapologetic. “You’re an interesting woman. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t notice.”
I didn’t answer right away.
“You’re lucky Theo’s not here,” I stated.
