you again," Craig muttered, his

om. "What's with you, man? It's just girls. Relax

oice of the waitress interrupted. She approached

isn't leaving her friends," she s

ention. He leaned in, voice low but playful. "You tell her

ack to the girls. Craig's gaze followed her, but his mind wasn't on h

casually, his tone masking some

across the room, his finger poin

said, almost

girls. He saw the redhead and then, almost

m his shoulders as if he is relieved that Keith

't last long. His calm mask quickly returned, and h

ing isn't she

hough the word held mor

m, muttered distractedly, his eyes never lea

ed, sinking deeper into the seat, his gaze deliberately

he first to notice them, and his grin only grew wid

g a grin. "I'm sorry, didn't mean to drag you all the way o

ntly stepped forward, calm but with an

ust a second, her gaze meeting hi

t, the kind that had become all to

grin never leaving his face. "Ple

ok before speaking, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I only came t

his seat, unabashed. "I thought it'd be more endearing to have someone els

again, clearly not bu

o Merlina and Megan, his gaze linger

lt something stir. He couldn't quite place it-

his thoughts. "Haven't see

rly irritated. "That's odd, cause your friend her

sure if Phoebe was talking about him, but he couldn't

sed, turned to Craig. "

sip from his drink. "Can't rec

" She glanced at Merlina and Megan, who remained

xpression unreadable, but a flicker o

be part of this. And yet, here he was,

thing that sounded like reluctance, "now t

mirk playing on her lips. "Now tha

idn't r

hem stretched, thick

further. "What? Do faces blur toget

. "Only the irrelevant ones. You know...th

ck shock, her tone dripping

ly intervened, sensing the brewing storm. He placed a

roductions," Keith said quickly, his charm back

uctant, answered fi

sweet but cautious smile

alm, almost regal

Well, I'm Keith Jacobs, and this is Craig L

hing said, but everything felt. It lingered betw

ng like nothing had happened. Phoebe, oblivious of the tens

anything in common," she

pletely unbothered.

dies laughed and chatted easily, the initial

g her courage, tu

vously tracing the rim. "Hey, Craig," she began, the words almost shy. "About your

ssion softened. The usual walls he'd built so

he said them. The look in her eyes, there was no h

g, whether it was his attention, hi

nded...

uin

rm

him, trying to play their cards right or butter hi

hey would never bring small talk like handbooks to the table if

re, with eyes that sparkled a little too brightly, as

oup like they were friends of his father,

ely interested in his opinion, all the while sizing him up like they were reading the back cover of

ng about how his next big move would affect the world. They'd drop names-big investors, old family friends-and Craig could hear the de

bout his upbringing, his status, his entitlement-it always made him feel lik

to figure out how to gain something from him. His attention, his family connections, his approval.

ard at his jokes, clearly trying to get his attention. Always a little too loud, a little too pe

ectful to him, exactly like Phoebe, just to seem different and less obvious. A

just... there. Talking about a damn handbook. It was refreshing, but in a way

new...uns

make sense of his deep thoughts about Merlina. Thinking of his respo

t expect