Krista stiffens, but I don’t wait for her response. I simply grab her hand and lead her to the restroom.

Krista huffs, glancing at the mirror as she smooths down her hair. “Can we hurry this up? I don’t want to leave the guys alone too long.”

But I don’t care about the guys. I don’t care about the fake dinner or the damn PR stunt.

I care about her.

“Are you okay?” I cross my arms and lean against the sink, watching her carefully.

She pauses, fingers stilling in her hair before she catches herself. Then, slowly, she turns to face me. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“I’m fine. Stop acting weird.” She waves a dismissive hand. “I was gonna tell you about Cory, you know. I just… wasn’t expecting him to show up tonight after a huge fight we just had.” She rolls her eyes. “I know it’s weird, dating your ex-husband, but I promise I had no idea until a few weeks in. I didn’t seek him out. He introduced himself to me, and… we just clicked.”

I exhale slowly, choosing my words carefully. “Krista, I don’t care about that. I don’t care who you date. I only care whether you’re safe—because Cory’s dangerous.”

She bristles. “Oh, please.”

“I’m serious.” I step closer. “He can’t be trusted. And if you don’t get out now, before you’re in too deep—”

Krista’s entire demeanor shifts. Her spine straightens, eyes narrowing as something cold and defensive takes over. “You know what? He said you’d say that.” She shakes her head, laughing bitterly. “He told me you’d try to turn me against him. That you’d say he’s a monster. That you still want him. I should’ve believed him.”

“Krista, I swear to God, I don’t—”

“Oh, save it.” She throws her hands up. “You couldn’t keep him, so now you don’t want anyone else to have him? Don’t pretend to be my friend just because you lost him.”

My heart pounds. “Not every man is worth keeping, Krista. And Cory? He’s not a prize. He’s a warning.”

I take a slow breath, pull my phone from my pocket, and snatch hers out of her hand, then dial my number. “You have my number now. Call me. Anytime. No matter what.” My voice is steady and unwavering.

She stares at the screen like she doesn’t know whether to thank me or throw the phone back in my face, but she doesn’t do either. She just swallows hard, snatches it back, and storms out.

The second Krista and I return to the booth, the tension is thick with silence—a loaded, suffocating silence.

I sigh and turn to Vic. “Are you ready?”

“Hell yeah. Let’s go home.”

Cory’s smirk vanishes, and he straightens up in his seat.