"Hey, you okay?"
Xavier's voice pulled Cassidy from her thoughts. They were seated at a cozy corner table in one of the restaurants tucked inside the mall. Claire was beside them, quietly watching an educational kids' video on Xavier's phone.
Cassidy didn't usually let her use electronics, but Xavier had a way of bending the rules, only for short periods, and only with content she approved of. It was their little compromise.
Cassidy gave a small nod. "Yeah," she said softly. "Just… thinking about something."
Xavier didn't push. He simply glanced at her, then turned back to Claire, asking her what the video was about in that gentle tone he always used with her.
Cassidy, meanwhile, stared at her barely touched plate. She had expected the possibility of running into Zeke. Maybe at the shareholder meeting. But not like this. Not in a mall. Not casually, unexpectedly.
And definitely not with Zeke seeing Claire.
And Xavier.
Together.
