Page 70 of No Mistakes
I want to be near him, even if I don’t understand it.
He needs me, just like I need him.
There’s something in the way he looked at that room, like he was trying to survive the memory of something no one else could see. And maybe it’s crazy, maybe I’m a fool, but part of me thinksI’m supposed to be the one who helps him face it. I just hope he gives me the chance by letting me in.
“Eva?” Mandy’s voice pulls me back, and I blink, realising I’ve been standing with a carrot in my hand for far too long.
“Sorry,” I murmur, forcing my hands to move again, to keep up the act that everything is okay. “Just… thinking.”
She watches me for a moment longer, her mouth opening slightly like she’s about to push for more information, but she stops herself, turning back to the food.
A pang of guilt hits my chest as I realise I never asked her how her night went with Ant. I’ve been so caught up in Axel, I forgot her.
I watch as her dark hair sways across her back as she moves side to side, feeling the music.
“So…” I start, placing the knife down, angling my body towards her. “Iheardyou had a good evening with Ant last night.”
She looks over her shoulder, a confused look on her face. “Why did you say it like that?”
I give her a look, tilting my head slightly, and she drops the wooden spoon, covering her face with her hands. “Oh my fucking god,” she says, muffled behind her palms. “I didn’t think anyone would know.”
“I didn’t,” I say, letting the pause stretch. “But Iheardyou.”
Her hands drop just enough for me to see the horror in her eyes. “Youheardus?”
I shrug, fighting the smirk threatening to tug at my lips. “In my defence, Axel and I were walking back to the room. No exactly my fault you two forgot how walls work.”
Mandy groans, spinning around to bury her face in the crook of her arm. “I am going to die. Right here. In this kitchen. Bury me with the garlic bread.”
I laugh, shaking my head, but the sound fades almost as quickly as it came. Because underneath the teasing, there is something else. Happiness.
Mandy’s happiness matters more to me than I think I’ve ever said out loud. She’s carried so much, been forced to grow up too fast, to watch her own back when no one else would. And now that she has someone, even if it’s complicated. I want her to have it all.
Because ifanyonedeserves to be chosen without question, it’s her.
The dining table is mismatched, one of the legs wobbles, and half of the chairs don’t match, but there’s something about the imperfection that makes it feel… normal. For once.
Carter takes the seat at the head of the table, Ant beside him, silent but sharp-eyed. Gunnar slouches with a bowl of potatoes in one hand and a fork already in the other.
Axel and Flynn walk in last, Axel’s presence putting the air just a little tighter. He stands behind Carter, resting a hand on the chair, clearing his throat.
Carter looks behind him, groaning, “Just for one night, let me have this moment.”
Axel laughs, shaking his head. “Beat it.”
Carter grumbles, picking up his plate before moving to the empty seat opposite Ant. Flynn sits next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “One day you’ll get to play boss outside of your bedroom,” he teases, while Carter shoves his hand off, reaching for the vegetables.
Mandy slides a platter of roasted chicken into the centre of the table, its skin golden, juices pooling at the base. “You’rewelcome,” she grins, dropping into the seat next to Ant, bumping her shoulder into his like she’s been doing it her whole life.
The boys dig in fast, as if they haven’t eaten in days, and judging by the state of their idea of a shopping list, maybe they don’t know how. I take my time, listening more than speaking. The sounds of cutlery scraping plates and the occasional grunt of appreciation fills the space.
“You did good,” Carter says around a mouthful, glancing between Mandy and me, giving us a thumbs up. “Almost made me forget we’re on the edge of war.”
“High praise,” Mandy says, winking towards him while sipping from her wine glass.
Axel’s voice cuts in, catching everyone’s attention. “It won’t be long before we’re spotted. People talk. Especially around here.”
He doesn’t look at me when he speaks, but his words wrap around my spine like a chill.
