“Everyone should be a Jason Todd fan,” Jayla says. “But seriously, how is the new guy already invited to takeout night? Shouldn’t there be more of a vetting period? I mean, the kid likes Dick Grayson.” She whispers the last part with an exaggerated cringe.

“I should go,” he says.

“No, she’s just being obnoxious,” I say, widening my eyes at her. “She means it with love.”

“No, I mean it with mild trepidation,” Jayla says.

“Liking Dick Grayson doesn’t make him problematic, Jay!”

“It means he’s got poor judgment.”

“I’m just gonna go,” he says, standing up.

I lean around her to grab his sleeve and yank him back down. “Eat. She’s kidding.”

“Mostly,” Jayla says, giving him the evil eye before laughing. “I’m Jayla, by the way.”

“Ridley.” He blows out another breath, looking uncomfortable.

“Welcome to the family, I guess. Try not to suck, okay?”

“I—” Ridley starts, but Jayla’s already turned back toward me.

“Come on, Jubi—if we hurry, there’s still enough time to hit up the thrift store before it closes.”

“I’ll catch up with you, okay?” I give her my most pleading look. “I’m still eating.”

She rolls her eyes and slides her chair out. “Fine. Stay here with the Grayson-lover.”

We sit for a while after she leaves, eating our Chinese food in silence. I fight the urge to break it with a random fact, because that’s a me-and-Bats thing, and it feels like cheating to do it here with Ridley. He’d probably think it was weird anyway.

“So, she’s great,” he says finally. And I burst out laughing because he sounds so genuine that I can’t even tell if he’s being sarcastic.

“Her heart’s in the right place. She’s just very protective of me and my moms.”

“Moms?”

“Oh, come on, you had to have known. That doesn’t bother you, does it?”

“Nope,” he says, shoving his chopsticks into one of the boxes in front of him.

I pull out my phone and check my texts. The quartet chat is still going bananas—something about Shostakovich now—but still nothing from Bats.

“Got someone better to talk to?” he asks, ducking his head a little.

“Apparently not.” I sigh. “But I do have to catch up with Jayla. She’ll kill me if I don’t.”

“Can’t have that.”

“Right?” I stand up, grabbing my coat. “And just so you know, since you’re so curious, I’m not seeing anybody.”

He chokes on his rice as I walk out with a smirk. Score one for pushing the boundaries.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ridley