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And I was happy any time the two of them were around.

Knowing how lucky that was, I tried to enjoy the food and the good company. But Cyrus’ constant pacing didn’t make that easy.

It could be worse. At least she’s not being a total raging cunt.

But in some ways, the awkwardness was more unsettling. She wouldn’t make eye contact with any of us, just stalking back and forth the edge of the overlook instead, looking out into the distance.

And as the conversation at the table drifted toward Blade’s latest machinations for booby-trapping the park, Cyrus stopped pacing. She pulled something small and black from her pocket and lifted it to her eyes.

Did she bring binoculars?

I watched her for a moment as she scanned the valley below us. Then, keeping my footsteps light, I rose from the table, crossing the clearing until I was just behind her.

“Any good birds?”

She nearly jumped out of her skin at the question. “Fucking Christ. When did you get here?”

“What’s even out this time of day? Owls?”

“I’m not looking for birds,” she snarled, lifting the binoculars back up to her eyes.

“Really? You kind of strike me as a bird-spotting guy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you’re fucking boring.”

I waited for her temper to flare at the insult, but she just kept her eyes trained down at the valley. I squinted down myself, but all I could see was miles and miles of trees stretching up and down the distant mountains.

My foot tapped in the dirt as I crossed my arms over my chest. “Well if you’re not looking for birds, what are you looking for?”

“The compound. There’s supposed to be a view of it from up here?”

“Are you fucking serious?” I tried to smack her arm and knock the binoculars away from her eyes, but instead, I caught her shoulder. The shock of it was enough to make her jolt, nearly sending her teetering over the edge of the overlook.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” She snarled, tossing the binoculars in the dirt.

“What’s wrong with me?” I scoffed. “What’s wrong with you?! We’re here to honor Nash’s parents, and you want to do fucking recon?”

“You’re one to talk! You couldn’t even keep your fucking pants on!”

“Enough—” Blade’s voice cut through the argument just before I could really lay into Cyrus. Apparently, our voices carried pretty loudly across the little clearing, and for once, Blade didn’t seem happy. “Today isn’t about your bizarre psychosexual rivalry, okay? We’re here for Nash. Don’t make it weird.”

“She—!” I started, but a look from Blade quickly silenced me. Today was about Nash. And the last thing Nash needed was the two of us fighting, even if Cyrus was the one who started it.

“You’re right,” Cyrus sighed, rubbing the back of her own neck. “We’ll chill out. No more fighting tonight.”

No promises about tomorrow, though.

Rolling my eyes at Cyrus’ attempt at sounding human, I followed her and Blade back over to the picnic table, taking a seat in Nash’s lap at her request. Her arms were nice and warm as she pulled me into her chest, resting her chin on my shoulder.

But even as we tried to play nice, I could see Cyrus biting back the urge to make a snarky comment. There was no co-existing for the two of us: just tenuous turns of staying silent.

No matter how hard I tried to settle back in, there was no helping it: I couldn’t stand Cyrus, she couldn’t stand me, and I had no idea how we were supposed to last another month of this shit.

25

TESS