The sound of the phone ringing was like a bad joke at the worst possible moment.
Nash froze. Aiko's eyes opened.
For a second, neither of them moved. Then the phone buzzed again, loud and obnoxious, shaking in Nash's pocket like it was personally offended they weren't answering fast enough.
Aiko's eyebrows scrunched together, her lips pressing into a thin line. Her cheeks were still pink, but now it wasn't from excitement; it was from annoyance.
"Of course," she grumbled, stepping back and crossing her arms tight over her chest. "Of course it rings now. Because the universe hates me."
Nash let out a breath that was half-laugh, half-sigh. His hand lingered on her shoulder for a second longer before finally dropping.
"Or maybe someone just wants us to do things the right way," he said, shrugging. "No playing around. No distractions. Just… finish the job first."
Aiko puffed out her cheeks. Nash chuckled softly, a real laugh, not the fake ones he'd been giving all night.
