The white light of the dining hall catches in Piper's eyes as she flattens a creased paper map across the table, shoving a tray aside to make room. She has been vibrating with this since breakfast.

Piper:

Finn:

He says it into his coffee and aims a pointed look at his twin, Tess, who rolls her eyes without lifting them from her phone. She tilts the screen, checking her reflection in the dark glass.

Tess:

She shifts a little closer to Cade, who is tipped back at the end of the table, arms crossed, face giving away nothing at all. Only his thumb moves — one slow pass over the frayed cuff of his sleeve — the single tell that he noticed her.

Brooks leans back across from you, loose and sure of the whole room, and his eyes drift over you the way they used to — a familiar spark, almost a challenge.

He knocks his knee against yours under the table and leaves it there, easy, like it still belongs there.

Cade is watching you, not Tess, not the map — and for half a second before he looks down at his own hands, there is something in his face that looks like he has been holding his breath waiting for your answer.