He keeps working—pouring the espresso, adding syrup—his movements slow. He’s giving me time to speak up.
Dom finally looks away and walks over to the grill, where a couple of his teammates are babysitting the steaks.
“Dominic’s not stupid.” Zed doesn’t look at me when he speaks.
“I know.” My stomach tightens.
He drops in the spoon and swirls it around.
He’s not going to speak first. And I know it.
“Are you going to tell him?” I lean in slightly, lowering my voice. “Please—”
Zed cuts me off with a hum. Not of agreement. Not of disagreement. Just... consideration.
“Am I going to tell him,” he says finally, slowly pouring the milk over the espresso, “depends.”
“On what?” I furrow my brows.
“Are you going to let me join you?” he says before licking the spoon and dropping it into the sink with a sharp clink.
“W-what did you say?”
My brain can’t process what my ears just heard.
Then he looks at me. His light eyes are slanted and narrowed.
My whole body seizes under his gaze.
How can someone be so intimidating just by existing?
And did he just... did he just suggest a threesome?
“Now that I think about it,” Zed cocks his head, still watching me, “Jace is one thing. But the two of us together?”
I blink fast, a blush crawling up my face instantly. My cheeks burn. My lungs tighten…
“Breathe, Melody. I wasn’t being serious,” he murmurs, almost gently. “I won’t say a word. It’s none of my business anyway.”
He lets go of the glass, and I tug it toward me with a huff, trying to laugh it off.
“Thank you,” I mumble.
“Enjoy,” he responds.
And I’m not sure if he means the coffee or Jace.
I turn and make a beeline straight to the house. It’s quieter inside. Outside, there’s laughter, splashing, the thud of volleyballs against sweaty palms, music, and voices shouting over each other.
I pad barefoot across the hardwood into the kitchen, still slightly damp from the ocean. My bikini clings to my skin, and my thighs are already sticking together from the saltwater.
I don’t need coffee, I need to calm down. Zed might not have been serious, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t conjure some serious visions in my mind.
I’m still trying to reset when I hear footsteps behind me.
I don’t need to turn to know who it is. My body already knows.
“Real cozy little chat you had with Zed out there.”