Page 110 of Things We Hide from the Light
The librarian gave him a flirty grin. Lucian growled.
“So if Lina and Nash aren’t”—Naomi paused as part of Waylay’s team jogged past the sidelines—“enjoying adult tickle time, which we are definitely going to revisit, by the way, why are you still mad at them?”
“Becausehe’sacting like it’s none of my business andshewasn’t being honest with me. You coulda told me why you were here,” Knox said to me.
I nodded. “I could have. Probably should have. Opening up doesn’t come easy,” I admitted.
“Sure don’t mind when you’re on the receiving end,” Nash said.
“Keep pushing, Chief. They still haven’t dug deep enough on you yet,” I warned.
His glare would have incinerated me if I’d used more hair spray that morning.
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Sloane asked in a stage whisper.
“Hold on. We’re not done yet. We haven’t gotten to why Suit Daddy, I mean Lucian, is involved in such immature, emotional shenanigans,” Stef pointed out.
“Come on in, Lucian. The water’s warm,” I said to him.
“Well, now you have to,” Naomi said encouragingly.
“I knew there was something off with Lina’s story. And when Knox voiced his concerns about her, I did some digging. Then I tracked her down and threatened her.”
He said it as casually as someone describing an amusing encounter at Target.
“Unbelievable,” Sloane muttered under her breath.
“Lucian, that’s not how we solve things,” Amanda chided like he was a six-year-old mid temper tantrum.
“So Lucian was technically right and you’re still mad at him?” Naomi asked.
Nash’s answer was an irritated shrug.
She turned to Knox. “And you were right about Nash getting hurt and now you’re both mad at each other for that.”
“Well, breakfast didn’t help,” Knox admitted.
Naomi closed her eyes. “Is that why you were such a bridezilla with the florist yesterday?”
“Baby’s breath is stupid. Fight me,” he said.
“What happened at breakfast?” Stef asked.
“I invited Knox and Nash to breakfast to talk things out like mature adults,” Lucian explained.
“You showed up unannounced and dragged me out of bed at six in the morning,” Nash corrected.
“You’re welcome,” he shot back.
“Wait,” Sloane interrupted. “You, Lucian Rollins, willingly tried to talk things out?”
His gaze was icy when it locked on to her. “I do when it’s something that matters.”
She got to her feet, vibrating so hard the pom-pom on her hat trembled. “You are theworstperson I’ve ever met,” she hissed. Sloane was usually much sharper with her insults.
Sensing impending violence, I jumped out of my chair and stepped between them before Sloane could charge. “He’s got a lot of lawyers,” I reminded her. “And as satisfying as it would be to punch the smirk off his face, I’d hate to see his legal team bankrupt you.”
Sloane growled. Lucian showed his teeth in what was definitely not a smile.
