Asher says after we’ve stepped out of the room and made our way down to the end of the hallway.
East glances in the direction of our room then looks at Asher warily. “Do you think we’re far enough away that she won’t be able to hear us talking?” The uneasiness flowing off him is foreign.
I’ve known East for a very long time, and he’s usually laidback. At least, he gives off the façade of being relaxed all the time. It’s mostly an act. Asher is that way, too. So am I. We all have a part to play in our band, and we’ve been living that part for a very long time.
Until Harlynn came into our lives.
Harlynn. Harlynn. Harlynn. I swear to gods, my implanted heart beats her name. I’m not a heart expert, so I’m not sure if that’s possible. It feels like it is, though, which is odd and new, and I’m not sure what to do with it.
Asher wavers, scratching the back of his neck. “It’s hard to say for sure if she can … We know so little about her powers.”
“I know,” East mumbles. “I really wish we could find a reader so we can learn more about her powers and then test them.”
“Agreed.” Asher says then drags out a pause. “Also, what about her birthday …? I feel like we should do something for her.” He looks at East and me for confirmation.
“We definitely should,” East tells him. “I can say pretty damn confidently that she’s probably never had anyone do anything for her, so as soon as we get off this planet, let’s have a celebration.”
“Definitely,” Asher agrees. “And I think … I want to get her a gift, too.”
I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point. Celebrations? Gifts? I suck at both of those.
East nods, sinking into silence for a moment. So does Asher. Me? I start stressing about presents.
I have no clue what to get Harlynn, and it feels like, as her best friend, I should get her something epic, like her.
“But back to why I had us come out here,” Asher says, yanking me from my worries. “Things with Harlynn are starting to become … complicated, and I think the three of us need to decide what we’re going to do, and then talk to her about it.”
“The three of us?” East says amusedly. “Don’t you mean four?”
My brows knit, but Asher appears less puzzled than me.
“Yeah, I noticed that, too,” Asher tells East with a weighted sigh.
“Why do I get the feeling that I’m missing something?” The wheels in my arms hum as I cross them.
“Because you probably are.” East smirks at me, then redirects his attention back at Asher. “So you noticed it, too.”
Asher blows out a deafening exhale. “I did. And I’m not sure how I feel about it.”
“Wait … What are you talking about?” I ask, my gaze bouncing between the two of them.
They trade a look, and then Asher releases a sigh and turns toward me. “I’m fairly positive that my younger brother may have fallen for Harlynn during his time trying to capture her for my father,” Asher explains, measuring my reaction closely.
My lips part in shock. “What …? Why do you think that?”
“Because of the way he talks about her,” Asher says with a shrug. “He knows way too much about her. Information that he wouldn’t need to have collected for my father, like the fact that she loves the taste of vanilla frosting and hates the scent of rust.”
“It’s also how he looks at her,” East adds. “And the fact that he went and saved her from Maple the moment he was free.”
Is that what that was about? Gods, I’m so clueless sometimes. Then again, emotions are relatively new to me.
“I … I just assumed that was because he happened to be heading toward our vehicle and saw what was happening,” I say.
East flits a grin in my direction. “Aw, sweet Arrow, you’re almost as naïve as our little thief.”
I aim a dirty look at him, but then look back at Asher. “You really think he likes her?”
He hesitates then nods. “I do. But I don’t think we need to worry about it right now. Max … he’s been through a lot, and I think it’ll take him some time before he gets used to his freedom. So, for right now, I think we just need to focus on us and what we want. And also what Harlynn wants.” A weird look flashes