Her head falls back as she lets out a delighted laugh, “Nice? That’s all you have to say after you came upstairs all red-faced and flustered? Come on, Sel, spill. Did he kiss you after I interrupted his first attempt? Because if he didn’t I’ll have to reconsider his place in the universe.

“Celeste,” I groan, dropping my burning face to the cool table. The memory of his lips against mine, the way he held me like I was precious, makes my stomach flip all over again. I hadn’t expected it to hit me so hard, but here I am, still reliving it like some smitten schoolgirl.

Orion clears his throat, his brow furrowing. “Do I need to hear about this?”

“Yes, you do,” Celeste says firmly, turning her attention to him with an exaggerated look of innocence. “It’s important for a big, bad, protective brother to know who his sister is swooning over.”

I groan again but the memory of Theo’s kiss, the heat, the sweetness, the way he held me like I was the most important person in the world, sends my heart racing all over again. I take a deep breath, trying to push away the ridiculous giddiness curling through me. “Fine,” I mumble. “Yes, he kissed me.”

Celeste gasps, clapping her hands together like a kid on Christmas morning. “I knew it! And? Were there fireworks? Was it life-changing?”

I hesitate, glancing at Orion, who’s now staring at me like I’ve sprouted a second head. I should probably downplay this. I should probably act like it was no big deal, but the truth is, it was. And I have no idea what to do with that.

“It was…” I trail off, chewing on my lip before finally admitting, “It was really good.”

Orion exhales sharply and rubs his temple. “Okay, great, you’re in love. But can we move on to a more pressing matter?”

The tone of the room shifts immediately. Celeste sets down her mug, her playful expression sobering as she looks at him. “What’s up?”

“I’ve been thinking,” Orion says, sitting up straighter. “It makes the most sense to have the meeting here. Neutral ground, but also controlled. Less chance of surprises.”

I frown slightly, considering his words. “You think something might happen?”

He shrugs, but his expression is serious. “I don’t think it will, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

I nod slowly, the weight of reality settling back in. The warmth of last night, the fluttering excitement, it all feels distant now, overshadowed by a heavier emotion. “Okay, we can have it here. Tonight?”

“Tonight,” he confirms.