_______________

Los Angeles, a few minutes later…

THE FIRE BURNING IN THE fireplace crackled softly as they all recalled Brody’s birthday, four months ago.

Brody stirred. “Alex, I should never have brought you into my house and introduced you to them. They’ve tainted your character. You’ve evolved into a fellow conspirator.”

Alex bowed low. “Thank you,” he said gravely

Veris chuckled. “You’re just sore because you didn’t think of it first.”

“Me?” Brody lifted a brow. “I would never have been so cruel, even if I had thought of it first.” He dug into his hip pocket and pulled out his phone and thumbed the screen. “Besides, you two have too many books already.” He bent over the screen, swiping furiously.

“What are you doing, anyway?” Veris asked.

“Texting,” Brody said distantly.

“I could tell,” Veris said. “Do you know how I could tell?”

Brody didn’t look up.

“I could tell because you’re not looking at me when you speak.”

“Very clever of you,” Brody said absently.

“I know.” Veris nodded in agreement.

Brody sat up and put the phone away. He was smiling.

“What have you done now?” Taylor demanded.

“Nothing,” he said airily, his smile getting larger.