I peeked over at her, trying to see her as if I didn’t know her. Taylor was almost as tall as I was. When she was younger, she’d hunch her shoulders, but eventually she must have come to terms with her height. And now? Shoulders back, head high. High cheekbones and plump lips—she would photograph like a dream. Taylor was hot. Maybe it was the confidence paired with the classic beauty, but it was causing a stir. People in the bagel shop were gawking at her. Had I never noticed that before?

Parker lifted an eyebrow. “Thanking some gods that you aren’t actually related now, huh?”

I contemplated the table.

“He’d never mess with his sister’s best friend, right?”

Endgame. He’d got his ass up and followed us here.

Parker’s happy face slid into a passive one. He pulled a chair over from a table nearby and straddled it. I hated him on sight. How his face and his edged tone called to me—I didn’t know. Was there something that was the opposite of soul mates? Hate mates?

Taylor saw Endgame sit next to me. Her eyes flared with rage.

Parker tapped his fingers. “Just managed to be here when you don’t normally see daylight?”

“I was hungry.” Endgame reached over and grabbed half of my bagel, taking a bite.

Taylor excused herself from where the girls were chatting. Then she stepped up on a chair like it was a stair, then used the tables to get to our booth.

I held up my hand for her to take. She stepped down onto the booth’s chairs and slid right between Caesar and me.

I turned my head so Endgame couldn’t see and smiled at her. She reached over and took the rest of my bagel, broke it into a manageable piece, and then fed it to me.

I let her see my gratefulness for her outrageous behavior.

Endgame made a very disgusted noise and then pushed away from his chair. “Yeah, that makes me sick, so I’m gonna go.”

I made sure not to watch him leave.

Taylor’s defiant glare turned soft as soon as Endgame was gone. “You okay?”

She touched my cheek. I leaned against her hand. “Yeah. Thanks.”

“I’m not a fan of his.” She put her arm around me.

“You’re not alone there, sweet cheeks.” Parker held up his coffee cup as if to toast her.

They were right. I wasn’t sure why I let Endgame keep this poison-tipped knife in my heart, but I knew it was still there.

6

Austin’s friends were amazing, loud and hilarious. It took me back to hanging with Teddi and my friends from home. It was crazy how college and adult life divided us up. A lot of the guys had partners now, and holidays were spent visiting family more and less time with each other.