Sparks And Warnings

The silence between Ren and Luke was heavy enough to crush mountains.

I sat there, awkwardly twisting my apron, looking from one boy to the other like a spectator at a very intense — and very confusing — chess match.

Ren was still smiling, but there was a sharpness to it now.Luke's hands were in fists at his sides, like he was one second away from doing something reckless.

Finally, Ren broke the silence."I didn't realize the café had a bouncer now," he said lazily, flicking his gaze over Luke without much effort."Or is protecting Kharis your full-time job?"

Luke's jaw tightened."I just don't like seeing her around guys she doesn't know well," he shot back, voice low.

I blinked between them, completely lost.Was I... missing something?Was there some secret rivalry I didn't know about?

Before either of them could escalate things, I stood up so quickly my chair nearly toppled over.

"Okay!" I said, too loudly."Time to — um — clean the counter! Very important!"

Neither of them moved.

I grabbed Luke's sleeve and tugged him toward the back of the cafe, ignoring Ren's amused snort behind me.

When we were out of earshot, Luke leaned against the wall, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You really okay staying at that mansion?" he asked quietly."With that guy around?"

I hesitated.

Ren could be annoying, arrogant, and way too good-looking for his own good —but he wasn't... dangerous.

At least, I didn't feel scared around him.

Still, Luke's concern made my heart ache a little.

"I'll be fine," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt."Besides, Idalia's there too."

Luke didn't look convinced.

He leaned closer, dropping his voice to a whisper."Just promise me one thing, Kharis."

I nodded, eyes wide.

"Don't trust people too easily," he said."Not everyone who smiles at you has good intentions."

There was a sadness in his voice — like he was speaking from experience — and it made my chest tighten painfully.

I opened my mouth to promise him —

but before I could, a sudden crash echoed from the front of the cafe.

We both turned.

Ren was standing near the counter, looking sheepish, a tray on the floor at his feet.

When he caught me staring, he grinned."My bad," he said."Guess I'm just... distracted."

His eyes locked on mine in a way that made my heart do a ridiculous flip.

Luke muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like,"Unbelievable."

I wasn't sure if I should laugh, scream, or run far, far away.

Maybe... all three.