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“You know better,” I replied, still staring at the screen. “She’s not going anywhere without me.”

“We still need to talk about that other thing,” Rook reminded us.

It was already on my list, but not while Zoe was still in the room. No matter how chill she seemed, this kind of talk didn’t happen with outsiders hanging around. Not even one wearing my brother’s hoodie. A high-pitched squeak suddenly came from upstairs, followed by a thud. Everyone’s heads lifted toward the ceiling.

Nick was the first to turn and look at my brother. “Cade. Bro. Whattheefuck?”

He grinned. “How do you know that didn’t come from Rook’s room?”

Rook didn’t look up. “My pest is long gone.”

Xander’s voice cut in through the headset. “Yeah, that didn’t sound like Ferret--Fey.”

Zoe snickered, and I liked her a little more for it.

Cade smirked, shameless as always, cracking his bruised knuckles from the diner fight while pushing to his feet. “Be right back. Gotta check on my houseguest.”

I shook my head, a low laugh rumbling out. At least someone was having fun tonight.

Nick tossed a controller at me without tearing his eyes from the screen. “Better him than me.”

I caught it one-handed, sinking deeper into the couch.

A muffled thump drifted down from upstairs, followed by Cade’s voice, clear as day: “Why the fuck are you trying to get out of the closet, Macy?”

Around here, it was never fucking boring.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

RYDER

My stomach had been growling for the last hour, and I had one thing in mind. Moons Over My Hammy, my personal edition—cheddar, scrambled eggs, black forest ham, double toast, and a hit of hot sauce. It was the bestcomfort food. The eggs were just starting to sizzle when the front door opened and the sound of half-laughed curses echoed down the hall. Cade stepped into the kitchen first, tossing his keys on the counter, followed by Rook and Nick.

“Is she home?” I asked, flipping the eggs.

“Safe and sound,” Cade answered, grabbing a water from the fridge.

Nick leaned across the counter toward me. “You making just one, or is this a communal offering?”

I looked back at him, but didn’t stop what I was doing.

He grinned. “That's a yes?”

“Grab me some more bread.”

He was off the stool and back with the loaf in seconds, dropping it next to the stove.I layered on the ham and cheese while the eggs finished, then toasted the bread just right, crisp on the edges, soft in the middle. Cade posted up on the counter with a fork in one hand, his water in the other, and slid the pan toward himself, forking the leftover eggs straight out of it.

“You untrained savage,” I joked.

He laughed and kept eating despite the steam wafting through the air.

I dropped the first sandwich in front of Nick, who nodded his thanks. “Good look.”

I grabbed myself a water, cracking open the fridge again. “You guys want anything?”

Nick covered his mouth with a hand. “One of those Sunny D’s.”

“A Ghost,” Rook tacked on.

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