My defensiveness grows. “She’s my friend.”
“Where are you hanging out?”
“Her place.”
I begin to type her address into the calendar.
He takes a breath, his body moving for the first time. “That’s not. . . You don’t have to add that to the calendar. It’s fine.”
“It’s the rules, right?” I’ll be damned if he gives me shit for not listening.
“I’m guessing Ren never used the calendar?” Adeline remarks.
Tristan hesitates and then darkly admits, “I just paid attention to her calendar, is all.”
Adeline cocks her head to the side. “Well, now you’re going to have to pay attention to Isolde’s. The woman’s got places to go. Things to do. Drinks must be had.”
Tristan’s muscles tighten at her teasing. “It’s not. . . I’m not.” He lets out a big sigh. It’s kind of nice seeing him like this. Tripping over his words. “I’ve got a conflict, is all.”
“Conflict?” I ask, tucking my phone in my pocket.
“I mentioned I already had some events on the books.”
I nod, remembering.
“That night is one of them. Some big fancy gala my clientis going to. I thought. . .” He rubs the back of his neck. “I thought, maybe you’d stay in that night.”
“Oh.” I can see his point.
“Luis’s got you that night,” Tristan explains, “because Antonio is with me.”
Adeline crosses her arms. “And Luis can’t watch over her unless she’s tucked away in her apartment?”
Tristan is silent for a moment, his brow wrinkled. “No. I just would have preferred she’d stay at home, since I’d be away.”
Something fizzes in my belly. Is he being protective or overbearing?
“I’ll be fine with Luis,” I decide.
Tristan’s chest lifts with a deep breath. His eyes have darkened just the slightest.
“Hey, what’s up?” Luis comes down the hall, his gray shirt soaked. He’s his usual, wise-cracking self as he struts toward us, but he stops when he senses the tension. “What’d I just step into?”
You sure about this?Tristan silently asks.
I simply stare back at him.
“Antonio!” Tristan barks. The employee runs over. “Isolde’s got plans tomorrow. I want you to vet the place.”
“Whoa.” Luis blinks. He straightens so fast, he overdoes it and almost tumbles over. “Wait a minute, but?—”
“You’re on duty,” Tristan confirms.
Boyish delight washes over Luis. He snaps his fingers, his grin bigger than I’ve ever seen it.
“I’ve got you, cuz!” A second later, seeing how this enthusiasm does little for Tristan’s attitude, he clears his throat. “I mean, you can count on me. Nothing’s gonna happen to Blue, I swear it.”
He winks at me.