“Now it’s weirder. I’m flattered, I think, but also very weirded out,” Precipice said.

“Okay,” Chastity said, sounding like she was having fun, even while being turned down. “I can tell how flattered you are, same way. It even makes me stronger. So this teasing, it’s good battle strategy, you know.”

“Maybe, but just so you know, I have someone I like,” Precipice said.

“Precipice,” Parian said, warning. She started to turn around, then her spider slipped. She twisted around and caught it at the building’s edge.

“Someone you like?” Chastity asked, edging in closer, her arm touching his. They were wearing jackets, but still.

“Love. I think.”

“Precipice,” I said. “Don’t tell them that. Don’t share that information. Especially when Parian is warning you.”

“Trying to keep my partner from falling off a building,” Parian said, absently. “You might be in more danger, Precipice.”

“Uh, noted.”

“What if I said that made me more interested?” Chastity asked Precipice, nudging him. “What if I said I was intrigued, now that you already have someone you like?”

“Sorry,” he said, in a vain attempt to disengage.

“Does that mean sorry, no, or does it mean something completely different?” Chastity asked.

“Can you leave him alone?” I asked her.

“I could, but I’m going to wonder what he meant, and I’m going to end up assuming the worst.”

“Safest bet,” Aroa said. “Men.”

Precipice, against all sense and sanity, opened his mouth to explain, “I’m flattered, but even if it wasn’t really weird, even though she and I aren’t together and might never be—”

“Stop sharing information about your love life with people who call themselves Heartbroken,” I said. I turned to the younger Heartbroken. “No offense.”

“No, no. You’re totally right,” Candy said.

“—Yeah,” Precipice said. He managed to stay silent for two fucking seconds before telling Chastity, “I can’t mess around. At least for now, I’m not doing anything in that neighborhood.”

“Oh.” Chastity squared her shoulders, eyes forward, in the direction we were walking.

“Sorry.”

“If you’d given me another answer, saying you were willing to betray her or betray those feelings you have for her, then I would have found a way for you to be hurt in any upcoming fights,” Chastity said, her tone still light. “Really badly hurt.”

I looked at Parian. She shrugged and nodded.

Great.

“Good to know,” Precipice said, awkwardly.

I fucking told you not to engage.

“Now I’m disappointed,” Aroa said. “Chastity’s one of the last family members on my bucket list to see go all out.”

Candy poked her cousin. “You’re such a Juliette. Wanting our mouths washed out with soap, wanting poor Precipice to get all four arms and both legs mangled, or whatever it is Chastity has in mind…”

“Juliette wouldn’t want anyone’s mouth washed out with soap. She’d want your mouth washed out with bleach,” Aroa said.