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I just stare.

“‘Absolutely not,’” he answers for me, a faint smile touching his mouth. “Fair.”

Mathias says, “Sit wherever you’re comfortable.” His tone is even, offering no pressure.

It throws me. I wasn’t expecting courtesy.

After a beat, I choose the far end of the couch from Quillan—close enough to watch them both, far enough to feel like I have an exit.

Rabbit stays pressed in my lap. I tug the hem of my sweater further down over my thighs.

Quillan notices that. “You know we’re not here to hurt you, right?”

“No.” The word comes out small but clear.

He pauses, then nods once. “Okay. Also fair.”

Mathias says nothing.

That is worse.

He just watches.

Not staring exactly.

Studying.

Like I am a difficult equation, and he is waiting to see whether the numbers rearrange themselves.

I hate it.

Quillan’s eyes drift toward the hallway table. “You make that?” he asks, voice low and curious.

I don’t need to follow his gaze to know what he means. My fingers curl tighter around Rabbit’s worn ear. “Yes.”

“For Adrien?”

Heat prickles across my cheekbones. “Yes.”

A slow smile spreads over Quillan’s face. Mathias turns his head just enough to take in the frame—the amateurish glue lines, the slightly crooked corners. His eyebrow lifts again, a fraction of an inch, but it says everything.

Quillan catches it. “Oh, come on, Matt. Look at this place.” He gestures loosely around the room.

Mathias doesn’t move. “I am.”

“He bought him crayons.” Quillan nods toward the coffee table where a box of crayons lies open, a half-finished dinosaur spilling off the page.

Mathias’s gaze shifts there. “Yes.”

“And bunny slippers.” Quillan’s voice is softer now, almost wondering.

“I do have eyes.”

Quillan leans back against the couch cushions, shaking his head slightly. “I know we were expecting the boy, but I didn’t think he’d be a boy, you know? I get now why he stopped coming to the club.”

I stare between them, my stomach tightening. I don’t understand what they mean—what any of this means—and I don’t like it. “What do you want?” I ask quietly.

Both men turn to look at me. Quillan’s amusement dims.