Chapter 37
Cece
Imake my way into the office kitchen, slipping a coffee pod into the machine.
Its mechanical hum fills the silence as I lean against the counter.
My eyes land on the Halloween party flyer taped to the fridge.
Bright pumpkins, cartoon ghosts, aggressively cheerful font. I skim it without really reading.
“Are you going?”
I nearly jump. Daniel’s voice cuts into the quiet, warm and unexpected. I turn to find him leaning in the doorway, casual but watching me closely.
I smooth my expression. “Hmm . . . Halloween isn’t my thing.” Which is true. Between the otherwordly beings who want me captured, lurking shadows in alleys, and energy-producing phantoms, I’ve had my fill of monsters for the year.
“C’mon, Cece, it’ll be fun,” he says, stepping into the room.
“There’ll be games, raffles, and extremely competitive costume judging.
It’s worth it just to see what everyone shows up in.
” He laughs lightly, like he’s already picturing something ridiculous.
There’s a twinkle in his eye, and for a second, it’s easy to forget how exhausting this year has been.
“Oh, I can imagine,” I say, stirring in creamer.
“Keep an eye out for the new intern’s costume.
If it ends up even half as dramatic as the photo reel she showed me this morning, it’s going to be .
. . unforgettable.” I can’t help but think back to the blood-soaked getup she thought was appropriate for an office Halloween party. I shake my head, laughing to myself.
He chuckles, moving closer. “Well then, how about you show up and see it in person? With me.” I look up at him. “I mean, you wouldn’t leave a colleague to battle the undead alone, would you?” he adds with a grin.
Charming. And still . . . no.
I step away, subtly but intentionally. I need space between me and whatever this is. “I’m sure you’ll survive,” I say, keeping my voice light. “I don’t think I’ll make it, but I’ll definitely enjoy the post-party photos.”
I catch a flicker across his face. Cheerful one moment, then something else, though it’s hard to put my finger on.
I offer a polite smile, coffee in hand, and head back toward my desk.
Away from the Halloween decorations. Away from Daniel’s hopeful grin, now tinged with disappointment.
And definitely away from any more discussion of the party.
I head toward the little deli a few blocks from work, the one Kate and I usually hit when we need a break from the chaos. She texted earlier asking if we could meet after work. Girl talk, she said. Which, coming from Kate, usually means something between mild overthinking and full-on crisis mode.
I let Xan know I was heading over, and he responded with a casual See you there.
Perfect.
When I walk in, the place smells like toasted bread and dill pickles. Familiar. Comforting. Kate’s already grabbed a booth near the window, menus splayed out, iced tea sweating beside her elbow. She spots me and waves me over with a tired smile.
“So glad you could make it today. I feel like I’m going crazy.”
I slip into the booth across from her, giving her a quick hug before sitting down. “What’s going on?” I ask, shrugging off my jacket and folding it neatly beside me. As the waitress walks by, I add, “A coffee, please,” then turn my attention back to Kate.
“It’s Ethan,” she says with a sigh, her fingers fidgeting with the straw in her drink. “Things were going so well. Like, really well. But this week, he’s been . . . off. Distant. Weird. I think something’s up.”
I open my mouth to respond, but before I can say anything, Xan appears at the edge of the table. Smooth as always.
Kate blinks at him. “Um . . . okay. I didn’t realize ‘girl talk’ meant girls . . . plus Xan.” She gives me a look, more confused than annoyed, but she’s not being rude.
I glance up at him. “Xan, can you give us a few minutes?”
He nods, but Kate waves it off. “It’s fine. Maybe a guy’s perspective isn’t a bad thing.”
Xan hesitates, then slides into the booth beside me. His expression is unreadable, somewhere between polite detachment and what did I get myself into?
Then Kate’s eyes narrow. Her brain catches up. “Wait. Where’s Luc?”
I look down at the menu, no longer seeing the words. “He had to go back . . . home,” I say quietly. The word feels too small for what it means.
Kate sits up straighter. “Home-home? Not like your apartment?”
I nod once.
“Oh, Cece.” Her tone softens immediately. “Why didn’t you tell me? Forget my issues. How are you doing? How long is he gone for?”
I exhale slowly. “I’m trying to stay focused on other things.” Like surviving the ache in my chest every time I think about him. “And I don’t know how long. However long it takes for him to do what he needs to do.”
It hangs there for a moment.
I clear my throat and push the weight off of me. “So . . . give Xan the rundown. Let’s see what he thinks.”
Kate watches me for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly.
She knows me too well not to notice the deflection.
But she lets it slide, nodding like we’ve silently agreed to shelve my problems for now.
She’s always been good like that. Gentle when I need it, and sharp enough to catch what I don’t say out loud.
She leans back against the booth and starts telling her story.
Her voice is calm, but I can hear the frustration sitting just beneath the surface.
Things with Ethan were great. Easy. Promising.
But now, suddenly, he’s distant, dodging plans, sending dry texts, going ghost for hours.
She doesn’t want to admit how much it’s messing with her head, but I see it in the way she keeps picking at her straw wrapper.
Xan listens, arms crossed, expression unreadable. His jaw tightens the longer she talks. He doesn’t interrupt. When she’s finished, he exhales slowly, his voice low but clear. “Something’s definitely off. Guys don’t just go from all-in to flaky that quickly without a reason.”
His words hit uncomfortably. Not because they’re untrue, but because saying them out loud makes it real. And I can tell Xan doesn’t enjoy being the one to say it. He may be blunt, but he’s never unkind.
Kate exhales, biting her lip. “Yeah. That’s what I thought, too.”
Xan gives her a quiet nod, then adds, “But look, Kate. You’re incredible. You’re smart, you’re funny, and you’re beautiful. If this guy is pulling away or hiding something, if he turns out to be less than what you thought, then honestly, that’s on him. It’s his loss.”
There’s a beat of silence. Kate’s eyes widen, clearly startled by the directness. Her cheeks flush slightly, but she offers him a soft smile. “Thanks, Xan. That’s . . . kind of you to say.”
I watch the exchange from the side, surprised by how sincere it feels. It’s not flirty. It’s something rarer. It’s genuine appreciation and respect.
“Hey, Cece.”
The voice pulls my attention up, and there’s Daniel, standing at the edge of our booth, looking down at me, Xan, and Kate.
His expression is friendly, but there’s a hint of something else in his eyes that I can’t quite place.
Then it clicks. Xan is sitting next to me.
Close. And Kate is across from us. It probably looks more intimate than it is.
“Hi, Kate. Good seeing you again,” Daniel says, flashing her a polite smile.
Kate returns it, casual and warm. “You too.”
Then I watch Daniel’s gaze shift. It snaps to Xan, sharp and waiting, like he’s expecting an explanation.
“Daniel,” I say quickly. “This is my friend Xanther. Xan, this is Daniel. We work together at SciCell. He’s . . . practically my boss.”
“I’m not her boss,” Daniel cuts in too fast. His voice loses its usual warmth.
Okay, then.
I glance between the two of them, tension sliding into the space like fog. Someone should probably say something before this turns into a silent showdown.
Xan leans forward and extends a hand. “Hey, Daniel. Good to meet you, man. I’m Cece’s boyfriend’s best friend.”
Yikes. That escalated fast.
His voice is calm, almost casual, but the words land like a challenge. And the way he looks at Daniel isn’t hostile exactly, but it is definitely measured.
Yeah. This just took a turn into weird territory.
Daniel hesitates for a beat, then gives a cordial but stiff smile. “Pleasure,” he says, though it sounds like the exact opposite.
Then his attention slides right back to me, and I can feel the air change, thick with unspoken questions I’m not ready to answer.
“Well, I just saw you all as I was picking up some food and thought I’d say hello. I don’t want to intrude on your evening. Have a good night.” His jaw is tight, his smile even tighter.
He turns to walk off, then stops, pivoting halfway back like he forgot something.
“Oh . . . hey, Kate. Do me a favor?” He gestures toward me, a too-casual smile tugging at his lips. “Try convincing your friend here to come to the company Halloween party. I gave it a shot, but she wouldn’t budge. It’s going to be a great time, and I’m hoping she’ll be there.”
His eyes hold mine on that last line. Too long to be casual, too intent to be innocent. He gives a half-smile that’s polite but tight, then turns and walks away.
I sink back into my chair, my coffee cooling between my hands, completely forgotten. Kate’s lips twitch, halfway between amusement and surprise. Xan looks ready to interrogate someone. And me? I’m just trying to figure out the fastest way out of this conversation.