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Royal’s brows nearly reach his hairline and Banks throws back his head and laughs. Atlas simply cocks his head. “So… this is it, huh?”

“She paid off my house and I put her name on the deed this morning, so yeah.”

“That was fast,” Royal says, letting out a low whistle. “But I get it.”

“She needed something of her own, but she wanted it to be half of my house. We looked at other properties and nothing felt right to her. Except my place.”

Banks grins. “That’s awesome.”

“Happy for you,” Atlas says, nodding.

“Poor Willow,” Royal deadpans. “Does she know what she’s getting into?”

“Don’t make me kick your ass,” I mutter. “Can’t be worse than what poor Jade has signed on for.”

We all laugh, our light-hearted banter distracting me from worry.

But I glance at my watch again.

Then I check my phone.

“She’s fine,” Aspen says, smiling at me. “Like you said, let her figure out her new normal. Maybe she stopped for a bottle of water or to buy flowers for Jade or whatever. I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.”

“Traffic,” Atlas and Briar say at the same time.

I narrow my eyes at them, about to say something snarky before I remember my suspicion that there might be something between them.

Until Lily walks in, running over to Jade.

They hug and whisper together, obviously talking shop, but it’s the way Atlas stares in that direction that gets my attention. He’s… fascinated? Infatuated? I don’t know how to describe the look on his face. I’ve never seen it before. Then he guzzles the rest of his beer—something else I haven’t seen since college.

Okay, so it’s not Briar he’s into.

This is a fun twist.

I momentarily feel bad for my sister before realizing she’s not even aware, completely immersed in her conversation with Aspen, oblivious to the…lovesick look on Atlas’s face?

What the hell?

I almost laugh, but I don’t dare. Not only would he kill me, but I wouldn’t want to do anything to embarrass Lily. Especially since I don’t know if there’s something going on there.

I have no qualms about giving Atlas shit, though.

“What’s wrong with you?” I demand, elbowing him.

“What are you talking about?” he snaps, scowling.

“Why are you staring at Lily like she’s your next meal?”

“Because he’s got a hard-on for her,” Royal stage whispers. “Duh.”

“I do not.” Atlas straightens his spine and fixes us all with the same look that tends to make his business competitors quake in their boots.

It’s less effective on us.

“It’s okay to like a girl,” I say pointedly.

“Fuck you,” he mutters.