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“I don’t suffer in silence.”

“Right.” Elijah holds up his hands in acquiescence. “My bad.”

“Focus on Gemma. I’ll handle things with Mary.”

“No more interference from me.”

I move to the bar cart and grab a bottle of scotch and two tumblers. After pouring us both a drink, I settle on the couch next to him. He downs his in one go.

“Another?” I refill his glass and clink it with mine. “Cheers.”

The warm liquid burns down my throat, and I welcome the sensation. It seems fitting for the moment—an acknowledgment of the burning emotions within me that I can no longer ignore.

“Remember when I was called to the principal because I hacked into the school system and got caught?” I say.

Elijah grins. “How could I forget? I got you out with two hours’ detention.”

“Bran still gives me shit about it. The only time I got caught unintentionally.” And it’s going to be the last time. Mary can’t know it’s me.

“We should ask him. Bran.”

I snort. “Seriously?”

“I’m dead fucking serious,” he says. “He got things sorted with Naomi.”

“This is the same Brandon who uses ‘Are you from Tennessee?’ as a pickup line?”

“Seemed to work for him. At least 50% of the time.”

I shake my head. “Never thought I’d see the day we’d ask Bran for relationship advice.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures, cuz.” He shrugs.

“Truce?” I hold up my drink.

“Truce.” He clinks his glass with mine.

“Man, I could really go for one of Bran’s burgers right now.” Elijah rubs his stomach.

“Good Idea.” I check the time on my phone. Just past midnight. “He’s probably still up.”

I pull up Bran’s number and hit the call button, putting the phone on speaker. It only rings once before he answers.

“This better be good,” Bran grumbles. “I was about to beat Bash.”

Bash’s voice appears in the background, mixed with video game music. “Dream on.”

“We’re in dire need of food,” I say. “Think you can spare some for a couple of pathetic souls?”

“Pathetic is right.” Bran’s eye roll is audible through the phone. “You two need to learn how to feed yourselves.” There’s a pause, then, “Be over in twenty. Want Bash to bring the good whiskey?”

“Please,” Elijah and I say in unison.

Bran sighs like it’s a huge inconvenience, but I can hear the smile in his voice. “Alright, you ingrates. But you owe me. Big time.”

Some things never change. Brandon used to feed Bash and me in college, too.

I end the call and bring up the tracking app that shows Mary’s location. A dot blinks on the map, safely within the walls of her apartment. Good, she made it home.

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