“We should discuss sleeping arrangements. I’ll take the couch in the living room,” she announces, her voice unnaturally bright.
“What? No, that’s not necessary,” I say, stepping forward. “You’re the client. You should take the bed.”
She shakes her head firmly, already backing toward the door. “It makes more sense for the four of you to share the bed. You’re already an established pack, used to being physically close.”
The way she says it—clinical, detached—makes something twist in my chest. She’s building walls between us so fast I can practically see the bricks stacking up.
“Trinity, there’s plenty of room—” I start.
“This way there’s no risk of my disrupting your pack dynamic.” She smooths down her sundress again, a nervous gesture I’m beginning to recognize. “And no pressure on any of you to do something you don’t want to do.”
Before any of us can argue, she abruptly stands taller. “I need to go down to the restaurant and check in with the chef for the welcome dinner. You should all enjoy the resort while you have the chance. I’ve heard the waterfall pool is amazing.”
And just like that, she’s gone, the door clicking shut behind her with quiet finality.
The silence that follows feels heavy, charged with unspoken questions.
Lucas breaks it first.
“What just happened?” He looks genuinely confused, his blue eyes wide. “Did I miss something?”
Cash adjusts his glasses, a gesture he makes when he’s processing information. “I’m getting the feeling that didn’t go well.”
I turn to Kyren, who’s leaning against the window frame with a carefully neutral expression. But I know him too well to miss the tension in his jaw, the too-casual posture that’s anything but relaxed.
“What the hell is going on?” I demand, keeping my voice low but intense. “You said something to her before we got here, didn’t you?”
Kyren’s eyes flick to mine, then away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit.” I step closer to him. “She practically ran out of here after you gave her the cold shoulder. And I saw how she looked at you, like something happened between you.”
Lucas moves beside me, his expression shifting from confusion to concern. “Kyren? Is there something you need to tell us?”
Kyren reaches into his pocket and pulls out a sleek black vape pen.
“I seriously don’t know what you’re talking about,” he insists, taking a long drag. A cloud of sickly sweet vapor billows around his face.
And there it is. The tell I’ve known since college. Kyren only vapes when he’s lying or stressed—usually both.
“Right,” I say, watching him closely. “So you’ve never met Trinity before today?”
He exhales another cloud. “Nope. First time.”
Cash scoffs. “Given that winning personality, I have to assume that you said something Trinity didn’t like.”
Kyren glares back at him. “Maybe she’s just stressed about the wedding. Or maybe she doesn’t like my face. Wouldn’t be the first time.”
The vape rises again. Second hit. Bigger lie.
Cash shoots me a questioning look, adjusting his glasses in the way he does when he’s cataloging information for later. I give him a slight shrug. I have no idea what’s going on here.
Before I can press further, Lucas loudly claps his handstogether. “Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I need to check out this bed.”
He bounds through the open door into the bedroom and launches himself onto the center of the massive bed like he’s doing a full bellyflop into a pool.
“Ohhhhh my god,” he moans, spreading his arms and legs like he’s making a snow angel on the pristine white duvet. “This is heaven. I’m never leaving.”
Cash’s expression softens as he watches Lucas. “You’re ridiculous.”
