There is obviously something very significant about those words. I can tell just by the way she won't look at me. But fuck if I know how to make this better. I don't even know what they mean or why they're there. I mean, is this the time to be the supporting boyfriend and not say anything? Or does she need to talk this shit out? I'm pretty sure I shouldn't open with, so babe, this black widow thing, I need to worry about that?

Not that I am. Worried.

Maybe we should be? I dunno, that's a pretty bad thing to be, isn't it? Like, a murderer?

Not you, too.

While normally this is something we wouldn't interfere in, Epsilon, your relationship with Helen being what it is, this does concern all of us. And the children, I might add. Perhaps we should get more information.

Fuck that. Listen. All of you. Whatever that means. If it even means anything. She and I have a deal. The past is that. We did shit as Alpha and as Freelancers that I'm pretty sure we're not proud of. She doesn't make a big deal out of that. We're not making a deal out of this.

Which, I guess is my answer there, isn't it?

I'm curious-

No shit. When are you not?

If there's nothing to the words, there's no harm in asking. If there is something, perhaps it's information we could use.

"We're not asking and that's final." Oh, fuck me, I said that out loud didn't I?