Her words hit me straight in the chest—then twist like a knife.

I pull my hand free and sit up, staring at the floor as I drag in a slow, uneven breath.

“Sorry,” Katrina whispers behind me. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, kitty,” I say. “You said exactly what you should have said.”

I’m the one who’s wrong.

I feel her shift closer, hesitating before she drapes her arms around my shoulders from behind, pressing her body against my back. She kisses my neck—soft, slow, like she’s trying to soothe me.

It would work if I wasn’t so goddamnwrong.

“Logan,” Katrina says, something fragile in her voice. “I?—”

“Honey, we’re home!”Goldie’s voice rings from the foyer.

“And we brought doughnuts!” Tesla chimes in, punctuating it with the slam of the door.

Katrina goes rigid. “Oh, dear.”

“You need to cover up,” I say, already reaching for the sheet. I toss it at her. “Now.”

She barely has time to grab it before the bedroom door flies open.

Tesla and Goldie burst inside, both still wearing last night’s carnival outfits, hands dramatically covering their eyes.

“Are y’all naked?” Tesla asks.

“Yes,” I answer flatly. “Get out.”

Goldie giggles. “Did we interrupt your love-making?”

Katrina groans and buries her face in the sheet.

I grab the nearest pillow and hurl it at them. “Get. Out.”

“Okay, okay!” Tesla snickers, retreating. “We’ll save you some doughnuts.”

“Do you prefer glazed?” Goldie teases, barely suppressing her laughter. “Or creme-filled?”

“OUT!”

Their laughter echoes down the hall as the door finally closes behind them.

“Sorry about that,” I say. “Just them being…”

“Unsubtle?” Katrina says from behind the sheet.

“Intrusive and annoying.” I reach for the sheet, peeling it down enough to see her face. Her cheeks are beet red with embarrassment, but she cracks a smile. “Are you okay?”

She nods, exhaling. “I wasn’t expecting them…”

“We have practice this morning.”

Her expression dims. “So do I.”

I see the nerves creep into her eyes. Something tells me Criminal Records won’t be giggling over doughnuts this morning.