~Narrator’s~

“You’re not answering that?”

Reo hears Jennie’s voice before he even looks up. The phone on the table vibrates again, buzzing against the glass like it’s possessed. Another call. Probably from Jensen or one of the board leeches who can’t seem to function unless Reo breathes down their neck.

He glances at the screen. Fifth call in ten minutes.

But he doesn’t reach for it.

Not tonight.

Instead, he pushes his chair in gently and says, “No. I’m with my family right now.”

There’s a pause at the table. It’s not loud; Blue is giggling as he squishes a cherry tomato with his spoon, and Leo’s sipping his water,...