Page 106 of Face Off

“Bliss chose the placement.”

“Then Bliss knew exactly what she was doing.”

Her gaze dipped toward the words stretched across my back when I moved past her. “Mercer Party for Two looks good on you.”

“I look like I’m announcing a baby shower.”

“You’re simply bitter because Cade found a woman willing to keep him.”

I looked down at her. “Starting early today?”

“You make it easy.”

“You’ve always enjoyed dangerous hobbies.”

She didn’t look away. My hand settled at her waist before either of us pretended I should keep it to myself. Charm stepped into the hold with a quiet satisfaction that told me she knew exactly what she was doing.

This was how she intended to fight. No speeches. No begging. She would stand inside my touch and make being hers feel natural enough to question why I ever learned to live without it.

She could try. I planned to enjoy every failed attempt.

“Breakfast first,” Charm murmured.

“That sounded like an order.”

“It was concern for everyone else. You become mean when you’re hungry.”

“I’m mean after meals too.”

“Yes, but then it’s recreational.”

She walked toward the table, leaving me with a clear view of her legs and several decisions I had no business considering before coffee. Day one of Charm’s campaign had started dangerously strong in those tiny white shorts.

I followed anyway.

Charm one. Me zero—so far.

Charm had claimed two seats halfway down the friends’ table. Her clipboard rested in front of one, while a black coffee waited beside the other.

I looked at it. “You saved me a seat?”

“I anticipated that nobody else would tolerate you during the briefing.”

“You’ve become considerate.”

“I’m protecting morale.”

I pulled out the chair and sat beside her. Charm had already filled her plate with eggs, bacon, fruit, and half a bagel. She spread cream cheese across it while reading the top page on her clipboard, treating breakfast like breakfast instead of a negotiation with herself.

Pride rose before I could prevent it.

Pain followed close behind.

I had wanted this for her. I’d begged her to find her autonomy and spent months trying to convince her she deserved the same care she gave everyone else. Watching her do it now should’ve brought nothing except relief.

It did. The pain came from knowing she had learned how to choose herself after losing me—and wondering why choosing us had once been impossible.

Charm caught me looking. “What?”