“Well, you definitely look safe,” Harper chirped, gesturing vaguely to the way we were all touching Callie, the way we had effectively formed a physical fortress around her. “You guys are really close, huh? Like, physically.”
“She was getting overwhelmed by the crowd,” I said smoothly, my thumb tracing the delicate line of Callie’s collarbone without making a single move to release her. “We prefer to keep a very close eye on our staff. As you can see, we take her safety incredibly seriously. This is simply the best way to ensure no one bothers her.”
Harper let out a light, breathy, slightly strained laugh. “Right. Safety. Sure. Well, whatever works! I’m just glad we get to drink the good stuff tonight.”
The tension in the booth was an odd, dual-layered thing.
To Callie, it was just an
