That landed differently.
Heavier.
Axel’s posture shifted almost imperceptibly, something tightening in his shoulders as his gaze snapped back to Harmony.
“Stop you?” he repeated, quieter now.
Not accusatory.
Not yet.
But closer.
Closer to understanding.
Harmony didn’t answer right away.
Her jaw set, her grip tightening slightly around her beer as she held his gaze, something flickering behind her eyes that hadn’t been there before.
No shame.
Never that.
But something more complicated.
Something that didn’t belong in front of everyone.
Sammy took one last sip of his drink, clearly satisfied with the mess he had just stirred, before clapping Axel lightly on the shoulder.
“Don’t overthink it, man,” he said, far too casually for the weight of what he’d just implied. “She knows e
