Page 193 of Their Arrangement

He tilted his head.

“More attitude. Less shaking.”

I flushed. Turned away like that would protect me. It didn’t.

“There’s coffee,” he said.

“Help yourself.”

Then, quieter?—

“Wolfe told me not to let anything happen to you. So… don’t test me.”

It wasn’t a threat. Not really. But it wasn’t a joke either.

I moved to the counter. Poured a cup. It was hot. Stronger than I liked. But I held it in both hands and let the heat sink into my palms. Royal didn’t move. Just kept watching. Like I was a puzzle he hadn’t finished putting together.

The silence stretched. Sharp. But not cruel. Just heavy. Like both of us were waiting for the other to speak first. And neither of us really wantedto.

I sat on the edge of the couch. Tucked my legs up. Wolfe’s shirt bunched around my thighs. I felt the chain shift across my collarbone and didn’t adjust it.

“You hungry?”

Royal’s voice broke the silence like it had weight behind it. I looked up. He was still holding the same cup of coffee. Still unreadable.

“Not really.”

“You should eat something.”

I didn’t respond. He pushed off the counter. Walked into the living room and dropped into the chair across from me like he owned the room. Which… maybe he did. Not the apartment. But the space. The energy. He stared at me for a beat longer. Then said?—

“You think I don’t like you.”

It wasn’t a question. I blinked.

“Do you?”

He shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“It kind of does.”

He tilted his head. Smirked. But it didn’t hold its usual bite.

“Look. I don’t hate you.”

“But?”

“But I’ve seen girls like you come and go. Pretty. Quiet. Complicated as fuck. Always hiding something.”

That stung more than it should have. I looked away.

“I didn’t ask to be here.”

“No,” he said. “But you didn’t run either.”

That one hit harder. Because it was true. He leaned forward. Elbows on his knees.