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This was what I loved. I loved helping uncover stories for people just like me. For so long, I had kept the truth of my past a secret to protect myself both physically and emotionally. If no one knew about my parents and what happened to them, they wouldn’t know to ask. They wouldn’t probe me about what they were like: the way my mom smiled down at me and the way my dad hugged me with all his strength, as if I would disappear.

I needed to call my brother and talk to him about all that had happened, but I wasn’t sure how to talk to him. It had been twenty years since I saw him last—twelve since I all but ran away to avoid him. I didn’t resent him for not taking me in anymore, but I also didn’t think we would ever have the relationship most siblings had. And I was okay with that.

I had my own family: the one that I chose, and the one that chose me every day. They were the people who had fought tirelessly to find me, and would do so again if I went missing. They were my family. My brother… well, Monroe was the past—one I was ready to acknowledge, but also move on from.

I took a deep sigh and dove into my work: rifling through documents, double-checking sources, and ensuring everything was cited correctly. This journal was about telling the truth, and I would do my damndest to uphold the standard. The day passed by slowly—the kind of workday that feels like a lifetime, though you're not upset. You’re happy for it to take its time because you genuinely enjoy what you do.

“Knock, knock.” I looked up to see Lexington leaning in the doorway, his broad shoulders filling the frame, his smirk ever-present.

I raised a brow. “Can I help you?”

He let out a startled laugh. “You’d think after making you come in my backyard—”

I threw a pencil at him with a laugh, which he caught—because of course he did—with a grin. “Did I strike a chord?”

I just rolled my eyes, but still smiled wide. “In this building, I’m still your boss.”

He shrugged and sat in one of the seats across from me. “I guess I should tell you, as my boss, while my article is late—” he dropped a folder on the desk “—it is done. In my defense, this new girl in my life is taking up a lot of my time lately, and I’ve just been too preoccupied to work.”

It was this attitude that used to make me want to pull my hair out; now… well, now it just made my heart sing. I took the folder, pulling out the article in question and immediately working it into the journal layout in front of me.

“Not even gonna read it?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

“Don’t need to,” I explained as I worked. “You’re good at what you do, Lex—if a bit tardy. You have a natural instinct for this that no one else here has. With time, you could be one of the best.”

It was quiet. Too quiet. I glanced up and pushed a lock of my short hair behind my ear. It was down to my jawline now, and thus too short to pull back, so it was always getting in my way. Lexington was staring at me with wide eyes.

“What?” I asked.

“You really believe that, don’t you?” His voice was soft.

I nodded. “I’ve always believed it.”

In a flash, he was standing and rounding the desk, pulling me from my chair and into his arms. He pulled me into a kiss, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, the fingers of one hand speared into my hair while the other held me close. Our hearts beat in unison, just a breath apart, and I kissed him back with force. I was insatiable for this man, which was a bit funny considering that not too long ago, I had felt an inexplicable need to punch him.

A throat cleared, making us pull apart. Oliver stood in the doorway, an embarrassed smile plastered on his face. “Hate to interrupt.” He held up a stack of papers. “Just need some signatures on expense reports.”

Lexington pulled away with a smile, retaking his seat across from me. I did my best to smooth my shirt and hair as Oliver closed the distance. I took the papers from him and began reviewing them quickly.

“Am I allowed to ask what is going on between you two?” Oliver asked after a moment of extraordinarily awkward silence.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Lexington interjected, a teasing smile painting his features. “I banged the boss, man.”

A startled laugh fell from my lips, and Oliver’s gaze whipped to his brother right before he whacked him upside the head.

“That hurt,” Lexington groaned as he rubbed at his head.

“Treat her with respect, man—especially if you wanna keep getting paid,” Oliver half-joked.

“It’s fine,” I placated, handing him back the stack of papers. “Lexington just makes inappropriate jokes when he's embarrassed.”

Oliver gave me an approving look. “It seems you know my brother better than I thought.” He then turned back to Lexington and quite literally pointed a finger at him like he would a dog. “Behave.”

Lexington broke out into laughter, and I followed shortly after. “Don’t worry, man, Goldie knows I love her.”

This time Oliver looked genuinely shocked. “Wait, you two have evolved from just hooking up? What’s going on here?”

Lexington nodded like it was obvious. “What did you think we were doing here?”