Outside, the morning air felt too still. The boys were already at the end of the street waiting for the bus, their laughter cutting through the tension like a mercy I didn’t deserve. I walked beside Ahmir, arms crossed, the sound of his shoes on the pavement steady and deliberate.
“You can’t talk to him like that,” I said quietly.
“I can talk to anyone however I choose,” he said. “Especially men who sleep under your roof from time to time.”
“He’s family,” I snapped.
He stopped walking, turned to face me. “He’s a complication.”
My breath caught. “You’re unbelievable.”
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur. “You called me last night. You asked me to fix it. And I did. You don’t get to pick which parts of my control you’re comfortable with.”
I glared at him, but t
