Page 101 of Citius

“What will it set me back?”

“Eat three lunches with us,” Joaquin said, “and play nice if we have questions.”

It sounded simple enough, though I wouldn’t put it past Joaquin to try something sneaky later.

“Deal.” I tucked a few strands of windswept hair behind my ear.

“Why—” Alijah hesitated, but his uncertainty didn’t stop him. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

If they wanted the truth, they’d get it. “Because I didn’t know where to start. It’s more complicated than you might think.”

Joaquin tilted his head to one side, sparks of curiosity gleaming in his dark eyes. “How so?”

“You’re living in what used to be my best friend’s loft. A space he custom-designed, just like mine. Because he dictated everything about Tolliver Yards.Everything. We redeveloped the building and the surrounding area. At what point was I supposed to say, ‘Cool, welcome, neighbor, you own your condo and a share of the building, but I co-own everything around it.’ Café, art gallery, grocery store, comedy club, parking lot. All of it.”

I looked between the mated pair. The surprised expression onJoaquin’s face was downright delightful to behold, but Alijah looked stricken. Not at all what I’d intended.

“I didn’t want to make things awkwardor dampen your excitement about moving in.”

Joaquin cleared his throat and shifted closer to Alijah, probably placing a comforting hand on his mate’s thigh beneath the table. “Wyatt left that part out.”

“He doesn’t know the extent of our property portfolio. Jacobi and I don’t like to advertise too much. Not everyone supports omega-owned business ventures.”

I glanced at Alijah. He was silent, his eyes slightly glazed, head bent, chin almost touching his chest. It didn’t seem like he was having an anxiety attack, but his presence felt heavier than usual. Sadder.

And I hated it.

“But,” I continued softly, desperate to reach him, to make him understand, “we have a website if you’re curious. Lists all our buildings and various holdings.”

“Text it to us?” Joaquin asked.

“Sure.” I pulled out my phone and started a new group chat with them, sending the link along with Kelsey’s contact card. “Kelsey wants to help with your housewarming. Let her know what you need.”

It took a nudge from Joaquin for Alijah to respond. But he still wouldn’t look at me, just picked at a speck of cinnamon sugar on the table. “O-okay. Thanks.”

I raised a brow at Joaquin, asking for a clue about what was happening with his mate. I don’t know why I bothered. His shit-eating grin and the flash of a canine tooth undermined the feigned innocence of his shrug.

While I wanted to have a longer conversation with Alijah, I didn’t have enough time today. And this certainly wasn’t the ideal setting.

“I need to go back to work,” I said, shifting to the side of the bench and getting back on my feet.

Joaquin wrapped an arm around Alijah’s waist, tucking his dazed mate against his side. He offered me a sly grin. “Can’t wait for our first lunch date.”

Halfway down the sidewalk, a sharp wind smacked me in the face—clearing my head of all extraneous thoughts except two cold, hard truths.

Alijah didn’t need me to worry about him. Handling emotional speedbumps was Joaquin’s job. Themate’sjob.

And distractions were forbidden for the rest of the day, if not the rest of the month, I swore as I headed back inside. Especially the good-looking ones.

Twenty-Nine

Wyatt

Dumped her. They thought I dumped her.

Sweat dripped down my back as I fought through another two-hundred-pound deadlift. This weight should have been easy. But my arms shook. My grip faltered. Something was wrong with me, hollowing me out from the inside.

That’s why I was hiding in the women’s gymnastics training center gym at the ass-crack of dawn.

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