Elena reached for her phone the way you reach for something familiar.
Where are you? Haven't heard from you all day.
The message was simple. But Elena knew Lucas well enough to read the texture beneath it. Since they had returned from the trip, they had not properly seen each other — not by choice, but because she was too busy with her work.
She typed back quickly, tucking the phone slightly closer as though that made the exchange more private.
Dinner with John. Seven Oaks. It's been such a crazy week, I'm so sorry.
She set it down and looked up. John was saying something about the timeline for the transport integration. She nodded, following, but one part of her attention remained on the phone.
The reply came within seconds.
She glanced down.
With John?
For some reason the wording made her pause for a second.
Yes. We had a meeting and grabbed dinner afterward, she typed.
The reply came almost immediately.
Stay there.
Elena frowned slightly.
