|Katherine|
“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Kat? Honestly, how rude of you,” Zane quipped suddenly, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
The words sliced into the air like the ring of a bell, sharp enough to pull every pair of eyes toward me.
I exhaled slowly, a long, steady sigh that did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. Typical Zane. If anyone was going to stir the pot first, it would be her. She never missed the chance.
Without giving her the satisfaction of a retort, I shifted my weight and stepped just slightly to the side. My hand moved almost instinctively, fingers brushing against Javier’s wrist. It was a small gesture, feather-light, but deliberate—a silent invitation for him to step forward, to close the gap, to take his place beside me.
“This is Javier,” I s
