Livia arrived at TARP headquarters on Friday to speak with Justin about collaborating with Hyrum. The previous night, Livia had broached the topic with Hyrum. Hyrum told Livia to invite Justin to dinner so they could discuss things. When she walked into the TARP lobby, Livia prepared herself not to react when she ran into Salina. When she arrived, however, Apollon was alone at the front desk.

He gestured for her to go back. “Justin’s waiting for you in the staff room.”

“Thank you.”

Justin stood outside the staff room door, reviewing some papers in a file. When he noticed her arrival, he closed the file and slipped it under his arm.

Justin gestured to the staff room. “I promised you lunch.”

Livia entered, hesitant. Food was set out on long tables at the head of the room. Three circular tables with chairs were set out nearby. Livia recognized the setup from when she was an intern.“You’re having a staff meeting after lunch.”

“Correct,” Justin said.

Livia looked around the room. Hortensius and Silvanus were sitting at a table together, chatting. At another table, Cam and Apollon were seated on either side of another woman Livia did not recognize, another recruit. She didn’t see Corvin or Alexander.

Justin pulled out a chair at an empty table and sat down. “Please, sit where you’re comfortable, Livia, but join me at this table.”

Livia sat across from him, so the expanse of the table was between them. “Corvin’s not here,” she said.

“He’s with Alexander running some papers to the Aediles’ office. We’re trying to reserve building space for some programs we’re setting up. So they should be back shortly.”

“Salina?” Livia asked, curious. Livia had always stayed for lunch before staff meetings. “She didn’t stay for lunch?”

“I gave her the rest of the day off,” Justin said.

That seemed odd. “Was she sick?”

Justin hesitated. “She was a little under the weather today.”

Livia evaluated Justin. He didn’t seem too concerned about the situation. However, that didn’t mean something wasn’t wrong. Justin was cool and level-headed. He could stay calm even if Livia combusted into flames.

“Did you speak to Hyrum?” Justin asked.

“I did.”

“Good. I’m interested in supporting Hyrum’s work and helping Corvin pass the legislation to resolve the welfare crisis in Lupus House.”

“He wants you to come over for dinner,” Livia said.

“Did he mention any ways that we could work together?” Justin asked.

He hadn’t. Their conversation hadn’t gotten that detailed. Livia wondered if she’d somehow failed in her assignment. So she asked, “Hyrum needs help, but I’m unsure what he could offer TARP. What do you need?”

“It would be nice to have food to offer those that came in for services. So often tragedy overlaps with poverty in especially destructive ways.”

Livia nodded. “I understand. How’d you like that delivery to look? Hyrum has the Patres Familiae send individuals over with certificates—”

Justin looked thoughtful. “I want something more personal.”

Livia’s eyebrows rose. “So, food assistance on-site, at TARP headquarters?”

“Yes.”

Livia considered. “I have no idea what kind of response Hyrum would have to that. But…I don’t think he’d have the manpower to transport even if he had the vehicles.”

“I’m not against scheduling out that duty to my officers,” Justin said.

“Okay, I’ll tell him that,” Livia said, feeling out of place. “But perhaps, I’ll let you two work out the rest of the details at dinner. Who else needs to be present?”

Justin smiled and gave her a nod of approval. “I’ll get you a list.”

Livia felt a wave of relief at not having screwed the whole deal up. “Do you want to request anything for dessert? My treat?”

Justin laughed. “I don’t think anyone could say no to anything after eating your lemon meringue pie.”

“It’s a deal,” Livia said. “Well, almost…a deal. You’ll get a pie out of it!”

Justin laughed again. He gave her a warm look. “Livia, I treasure our association in many ways. Thank you.”

She nodded. Making a pie was a small price if it helped resolve the thorny issues that Lars and Hyrum were trying to work through the Senate. The welfare crisis would only get worse the longer it went on. Giving people another location to get food assistance was a good idea. She was happy to support Justin in getting it set up. Then she got distracted from the conversation when Corvin walked into the room.

Corvin asked, “Liv, what are you doing here?”

Livia threw a questioning glance at Justin. He gave her a shake of his head. He didn’t want Corvin invited into the conversation. That was odd. But since it was his department, Livia would have to abide by his timing.

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“Justin wanted to surprise you,” Livia joked.

Corvin looked taken aback. “He did? With what?”

“Um, me, being here,” Livia said awkwardly.

“Yes, for the staff meeting,” Justin said.

Livia looked at him, annoyed.

He pressed with a slight smirk. “Livia was telling me she was available to stay.”

Corvin grinned. “Cam’s in charge of team-building games today.”

Livia hated team-building games. Usually, they required uncomfortable trust exercises or group challenges. Livia felt her eye twitch. “Right. Fun times,” she managed.

“You hate team-building exercises,” Alexander said.

Livia looked at Justin, looking for a way out. Instead, with a pleased smile, he drawled, “Just like old times.”

After finishing lunch with Corvin, Livia turned her attention to Camilla as she explained how to play a card game called Spoons. Everyone was supposed to grab a spoon out of the center of the circle when they got four of a kind. In each round, someone was eliminated.

Livia settled uneasily into this physically competitive game. She eyed the circle for similar signs of discomfort. Apollon caught her eyes, giving her a confused look. He probably wondered why she was even here. Livia thought about throwing down her cards and storming out. But then someone would chase her down and check on her. She didn’t want that sort of attention, so she decided to deal with the situation.

Livia tried to relax and enjoy the game despite the fact she kept losing. Unfortunately, she was in a suboptimal strategic position. Camilla, who had lightning-fast reflexes due to being in Aquila House, sat on her left. Corvin sat on her right, and he was all lank. His arms and legs outreached her by a significant number of inches.

“I’m out again!” Livia groaned and threw her cards into the discard pile. It was clear that she wouldn’t ever get a spoon unless she did something drastic.

So, when the next round came around, Livia launched toward a spoon and sprawled over Corvin’s left knee.

He grunted. “Liv, you’re tackling me?”

Livia sat up red-faced but with a spoon in her clutches. “I wouldn’t call it a tackle.”

“What would you call it then?” he asked, a single brow lifted. He was trying to look stern but failing as he kept breaking into a chuckle.

“It was more of a…sprawl.”

He laughed. “What’s the difference?”

“A sprawl is definitely less forceful,” Livia argued.

“So, that makes it better?” he grinned.

“Correct.”

He shared a laugh with the rest of the crew. The back of Livia’s neck burned with embarrassment. She should be more careful. Since she was Taurus, she could unintentionally hurt someone. Livia didn’t want to hurt Corvin or Cam on accident.

Corvin’s hand brushed up her back, then back down in a casual touch that conveyed he held no hard feelings. The gesture both eased her discomfort and sent butterflies whirling in her stomach.

Livia blew out a breath and focused on the next round. She was still in for the first time in the last half hour. Her eyes kept darting up towards the center as cards passed around the circle. Then Apollon got four of a kind and snatched a spoon out of the center. Livia and Corvin went for the same spoon. Instead of trying to grab it before him, which would be almost impossible, Livia flicked the spoon out from under his hand. The spoon skittered across the carpet. They both lunged for the spoon simultaneously and ended up in a tangled heap. Livia grabbed the bottom half of the spoon at the same time Corvin grabbed the top half.

Livia panicked. “Did I hurt you? Are you okay?”

Corvin laughed. He was lying on his back with Livia half on him, half off him. He tried to tug the spoon out of her fingers. Livia clutched onto the spoon tighter and laughed too. What was she doing? She was lying on top of Corvin in front of the entire TARP team to get some spoon neither intended to use for anything. The situation was ridiculous.

Usually, she’d let go of the spoon and run away, terrified she allowed herself to get into such a risky situation. This time her body dealt with the fear by laughing instead, apparently. Livia wondered if she had finally lost it. Her laughter consumed her, making her unable to extricate herself from the awkward position.

Corvin relinquished the spoon, letting his fingers caress the back of her hand. He seemed to realize something was going on with her because he remained quiet while she laughed into his chest.

At least it’s Corvin, she told herself. If she went insane, he’d probably know how to fix it. He’d stick around and figure out a way to put her back together. His other hand came up and cradled the back of her head. The same way he did when she sobbed on his shoulder. Livia wondered if a switch would flip, and that would be what happened. Laughter turned to tears? Instead, something weirder happened. Livia carried this tightness inside her, cobwebs tangled around her heart. The laughter shook them all out, and a lightness entered her chest.

She inhaled a deep breath, and her laughter stopped. She relaxed against Corvin’s body and exhaled.

“Are you alright, Liv?” Corvin asked.

“Are you hurt?” she asked, breathless.

“No,” he answered softly. “You?”

“Beyond the risk of death by laughter? No.”

Corvin chuckled. “You sure you’re alright?”

Livia nodded her head, cheek moving against his chest. “I got the spoon.”

Everyone in the room laughed. Including Livia, but this time it wasn’t uncontrolled or hysterical. It was her usual laugh, but it felt more open and genuine than ever. She felt different, transformed. It was more than a little unsettling.

She leveraged herself onto her elbow, lifting herself off Corvin’s chest. He removed his hand from the back of her head, releasing her. She sat up, exhausted and uncharacteristically calm. She still had the spoon clutched in her fist. She released it. “I’m done with spoons. I’m going to go get some water.”

No one contradicted her when she stood and walked across the room to the sink. Livia found a glass in the cupboard, filled it at the sink, and gulped it down. When she turned around, Corvin was leaning against the counter.

“Wanna talk?” he asked.

She felt so relaxed. She couldn’t get over it. “About what?”

Corvin tilted his head and studied her. “You seem… there’s something different. Am I imagining it? Are you really okay?”

“I’m fine,” she reassured him.

He studied her. “You sure?”

Livia took a deep breath and turned her back on the room, facing the counter, trying to pretend they had more privacy. Corvin followed her lead and turned to face the same direction.

Corvin exuded that calm, accepting demeanor she recognized as non-judgment instead of indifference.

“I was…” she gestured with her hands. “Laughing, obviously. But—” she put a hand to her chest. “Inside me…I can’t explain it.”

Corvin waited, listening.

“Some of the pain went away,” Livia whispered. “I feel lightness.”

Corvin’s face transformed with joy. “Healing.”

Livia looked down at her hands as she folded them in front of her on the counter. “It feels strange.”

He put his hand over hers. “Liv, this is perfectly normal.”

Feeling vulnerable, Livia lifted her eyes to his. “Really? Cause… it’s really weird.”

“No, really,” he insisted, hand tightening over hers briefly. “The human mind has an amazing capacity for healing. Trauma can linger for a long time, but if you’re put in the right moment, in the right place, with the right people, recovery happens, and it’s easy. The hardest part is finding the right places, times, and people. I am so happy for you.”

“I keep waiting for it to come back,” Livia said.

“It might,” Corvin said. “It might not. Sometimes it’s one step forward, two steps back. Right now, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and accept it.”

Livia took a deep breath and listened to him. Finally, she let herself still and stopped fighting against the change. She opened her eyes and met Corvin’s happy hazel eyes.

“Thanks, Corvin.”

“Not a problem, Liv. Will you come back to the circle with me?”

Livia looked over her shoulder. “Okay.”

“We don’t have to stay long. The meeting is over in 5 minutes.”

“Good,” Livia said, relieved. “It’s been a day.”

Corvin took her hand into his. “A good day.”