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During a lull in the action, Marcus makes his way back to me. "Sorry about this," he says, running a hand through his hair. "I know it's not how you wanted to spend your night."
I shrug, surprised to find I'm not as annoyed as I thought I'd be. "It's actually kind of interesting. I've never seen a construction emergency up close before."
For the next hour or so, Marcus and I work side by side, resetting systems and troubleshooting issues as they arise. As we wait for one particularly stubborn system to reboot, Marcus leans against the desk next to me, running a hand through his hair. He looks tired, but there's a spark of satisfaction in his eyes.
"You're good at this," he says, nodding towards the computer I've been working on. "Quick learner."
I shrug, trying to ignore the warmth that spreads through me at his praise. I find myself hyper-aware of his proximity. The memory of our kiss flashes through my mind, and I have to resist the urge to lean into him.
"So," I say, breaking the silence, "is this a typical night for you? Dashing off to save buildings in distress?"
Marcus chuckles softly, the sound warming me more than it should. "Not typical, no. But it happens. Part of the job."
"Must be tough," I muse. "Always being on call like that."
He shrugs. "You get used to it. It was the same in the military—you learn to be ready for anything."
I nod, recalling he'd mentioned his service before. "That's right, you were in the military. How long did you serve?"
Marcus's expression softens slightly. "Six years. I enlisted right out of high school."
"What made you leave?" I ask, genuinely curious.
His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "My parents died in a car accident. Liam was only fifteen at the time. I had to come home, take care of him."
The weight of his words hangs in the air between us. I can't imagine shouldering that kind of responsibility so suddenly, especially at such a young age.
"That must have been hard," I say softly. "Taking on that responsibility so young."
Marcus nods, his expression thoughtful. "It was. But Liam... he needed me. And in a way, I needed him too. Gave me something to focus on, you know?"
I do know. I think of all the times I threw myself into my work, into building my career, as a way to avoid dealing with the loneliness of growing up in the foster system.
"Yeah," I say. "I get that. Sometimes it's easier to focus on taking care of others than dealing with your own stuff."
Marcus looks at me then, really looks at me, and I feel like he's seeing right through me. "Is that why you got into beauty work? Taking care of others?"
I blink, surprised by his insight. "I... yeah, I guess so. I never really thought about it that way. But there's something satisfying about helping people feel good about themselves, you know?"
He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "I can see that. You're good at it, too. Making people feel comfortable, I mean."
I feel a blush creeping up my neck. "Thanks," I mumble. “I guess I’m just more used to helping others. That's why... well, that's why this whole situation is so frustrating. I'm not used to needing protection."
He's quiet for a moment, then says, "Needing help doesn't make you weak, Zoe. It makes you human."
His words hit me harder than I expected. I blink rapidly, surprised by the sudden sting of tears in my eyes. "Yeah, well," I say, trying to lighten the mood, "some of us are more human than others, Mr. Wolf."
Marcus laughs, a real, genuine laugh that transforms his face. "Fair point."
His laughter fades, leaving a warm echo in the air between us. The silence stretches between us, comfortable yet charged with unspoken emotions. I can feel Marcus's gaze on me, thoughtful and intense. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, almost hesitant.
"Zoe," he says, "can I ask you something? About Liam?"
I tense slightly but nod. "Sure, what do you want to know?"
Marcus takes a deep breath. "Why did you date him? I mean, what drew you to him in the first place?"
I let out a slow breath, considering my answer. "Honestly? It was... a bit of chaos, I guess. Liam can be charming, you know? And adventurous. After everything I've been through, the idea of something casual, something fun and uncomplicated... it was appealing."
