“Peacock-green copper-based lamp. Oh, I remember. I had trouble parting with that set. Everybody wanted to buy it, but I wanted it for myself.”

“As I recall,” Seb cut in, “you ended up keeping that lamp for yourself.”

“Not true!” Mary was outraged, gesturing toward him with the melon at the end of her fork. “I just had you make me another one exactly like the first.”

“You made that lamp?” Via’s eyes were wide and amazed. “I thought you only did furniture.”

“I made the base.” Seb waved his hand through the air. “Mary chose the shade. I’ve made a few lamps and chandeliers. But I don’t love all the electrical components. Shocked the shit out of myself a few times while I was working on the wiring.”

“Can I—we—see your workshop after breakfast?”

“Oh. Sure. It’s not much to look at, but yeah.”

Mary was opening her mouth, probably to smoothly introduce another line of conversation—bless her—when a bell tinkled from the other side of the house.

Seb dropped his head in his hand and grinned. “I knew I never should have given the kid a bell. I feel like a butler.”

But Via was the one who was pushing out of her chair. “Can I go? I wanted to say hi.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind? I wouldn’t want you to get sick.”

She shook her head. “I wanna see him.”

“All right. Down the hall, first door on your left.”

Seb resolved not to watch her go. Instead he looked up at the remaining three people. Particularly at his typically gregarious best friend, who was avoiding eye contact and staring down at his food like it was his last meal. Mary and Fin struck up a conversation, but Seb kind of tuned them out.

He heard Via’s low voice and then her light laugh. A minute later she was back.

“He says he wants some of his dad’s water?” She looked confused.

Seb made wide, exasperated eyes at Tyler and finally, the man cracked, laughing.

“That kid, I swear.” Tyler chuckled, affection in his eyes.

Seb sighed as he rose from the table and joined Via where she stood at the threshold of the kitchen.

“Here.” He filled a big blue glass from the sink and handed it to her. “Tell him it’s mine.”

Via laughed. “Simple as that?”

Seb shrugged. “I should probably try to start breaking him of the habit of only drinking my water. Like, it’s gotta be a control thing, right? But the truth is, I think it’s kind of cute. And someday he’s not even gonna wanna be seen with me. So whatever, the kid wants to share water? That’s cool with me.”

Via’s cheeks were pink and her eyes wide and dark at the same time. She wore no makeup today, and it made Seb realize that she must usually wear some to school because she looked just a little different. Around the eyes. Her brown hair was up in a messy bun and she wore two gold studs in her ears. He thought she looked casual and, honestly, a little stunning, in her white shirt and jeans. He found it both the easiest and the hardest thing to keep looking at her. His eyes vibrated with the tension of holding her gaze.