Page 157 of What We Brave

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I can't help the grin. "Wonder why."

He huffs out a laugh. Almost a real one. "Shut up."

"Just saying. Girl shows up for one weekend and you put her in a coma."

"Reid."

"I'm impressed, honestly. Didn't know you had it in you. Figured you'd need a PowerPoint presentation and a safety briefing before?—"

"I will knock you the fuck out."

"See, that's the Blake I know. Threatening violence from the couch while a woman sleeps in your lap. Very intimidating."

He shakes his head but his mouth twitches. That almost-smile that's basically a standing ovation from Blake Moore.

More quiet. Comfortable now. The kind we used to have before everything went sideways — before the deployment and the fight and the months of cold silence. Back when we could just sit in the same room and not need to fill it.

I've missed this.

God, I've missed this.

"So." Blake's studying me. That look he gets — the one that's all focus, like he's examining a piece of wood for cracks. "How was Tony's?"

"Good. Claire's getting huge. Tony's a mess. Standard new dad stuff."

"Uh-huh."

"His wife made th?—"

"Reid."

"What?"

"How areyou?"

Shit.

The directness catches me off guard. Which is stupid — Blake's always been direct. But there's something in the way he's looking at me. Not casual. Not checking a box. He's not going to settle forfine.

Doesn't mean I'm not going to try though. Feelings are hard.

"I'm fine." I bounce my knee. Tap my fingers on my thigh. "Good. Great, even. Glad it worked out. Mission accomplished."

Blake doesn't blink. "Don't bullshit me."

"I'm not?—"

"You circled the block."

I go still. "What?"

"I saw you." He tilts his head toward the window. "Twenty minutes ago. You drove past, and then you drove past again."

Fuck.

Of course he knows. Blake doesn't miss shit. He never has. It's damn inconvenient sometimes.

"I was just giving you guys time." I shrug. Easy. Casual. Totally fine. "Didn't want to interrupt anything."

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