She was sprawled on the sofa, half-watching some show she didn't care about, when the front door opened.

No knock. No hesitation. Just the familiar sound of the lock turning and the door swinging inward. Kieran stepped in like he always did, like the house was his as much as Jace's.

Then they didn't.

He looked away, scanning the room like he was checking for something more interesting. The fridge. The counter. The floor. Anything but her.

inner monologue: Shit. She's alone.

inner monologue: I can't do this tonight. Not with her looking like that, wearing that. Hair all messy. Legs pulled up on the couch. I need to get out of here before I say something I can't take back.

He took a slow breath and shut the fridge door.

The silence stretched between them, thick and unignorable.

He could feel her watching him from the sofa. Could feel her eyes on his back as he stood there, pretending to be interested in the label on his beer bottle.

inner monologue: Just say hello. Ask how she's doing. That's what a normal person would do. That's what a brother's best friend would do.

inner monologue: But I'm not normal around her anymore, am I?