After a few more minutes of casual chatter, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway caught both of our attention. Leo’s head snapped toward the window. His expression tightened for a second before he let out a slow sigh.

“That’s my dad,” he muttered, pushing himself off the couch.

I followed him to the door just as his father stepped out of the car.

Mr. Conrad was tall and broad-shouldered, the kind of guy who naturally took up space. But his usual imposing presence was dulled by the stress lines carved into his face, the exhaustion settling in the way his shoulders dropped slightly.

His gaze landed on Leo first, scanning him instinctively—like he was making sure his son was still in one piece.

Leo shoved his hands into his pockets. “Hey, Dad.”

Mr. Conrad nodded, his eyes flicking to me next. For a moment, he seemed unsure what to say. Then, after a beat, he offered a small, tired smile and extended a hand.

“North,” he called. “Thanks for being here for Leo. I know it’s been… a rough morning.”

I shook his hand firmly and gave a small nod. “Of course. You don’t need to thank me for that.”

He held my gaze for a second longer, the gratitude clear in his expression. “It means a lot, though,” he said quietly. “He’s lucky to have someone like you to lean on.”

Leo cleared his throat loudly, shifting awkwardly. “Alright, alright, let’s go before the MMD sends a search party,” he muttered, already heading toward the car like he was trying to physically escape the conversation.

I smirked, stepping back. “Good luck,” I called, lifting a casual hand in a wave.

“Yeah, yeah,” he replied, voice muffled through the rolled-up window.

Mr. Conrad gave me one last nod before slipping into the driver’s seat. The car pulled out of the driveway, disappearing down the street. And just like that, the air felt… strangely quiet. I stood there for a moment, hands in my pockets, staring at the empty road. Then, with a sigh, I turned back toward the house.

“Welp,” I muttered to myself, heading inside. “Guess that’s my cue for breakfast.”

My gaze fell to the table, where my now-cold peanut butter sandwich sat—forgotten and forlorn. I sighed, plopping back down and taking a bite. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the same. The warmth was gone, and with it, the tiny sliver of comfort I’d been craving. Now, it was just cold peanut butter on cold bread, a sad excuse for breakfast that somehow made the entire morning feel more deflated.

"Fantastic," I muttered around my bite. "Love when my food reflects my soul."

Still, there wasn’t much time to waste on my disappointment. The academy wasn’t going to wait, and I was already pushing it. After finishing my sad, joyless sandwich and rinsing my plate, I grabbed my brown jacket and a thick muffler from the back of the chair and slung my bag over my shoulder. The weight of the morning—both literal and figurative—pressed down on me as I headed for the door.

And immediately regretted everything. The chill sliced through my jacket like it was made of wet tissue paper.

“Oh, come on,” I grumbled, hunching my shoulders.

The snow had settled thick and pristine over everything, untouched and soft like a blanket straight out of a winter postcard. The roads, at least, were clear—probably salted enough for cars to move without their drivers sliding into existential crises. Even so, every gust of wind wrapped around me like icy fingers, and I shivered as I stepped out into the open air. With my hands stuffed deep into my jacket pockets, I quickened my pace toward the nearest subway stop. The crunch of snow underfoot was oddly satisfying—would’ve been enjoyable if my entire body wasn’t trying to freeze solid. By the time I finally stepped into the subway, the first thing I noticed was—

Heat.

Blessed. Warm. Heat.

I practically sank into a seat near the window, exhaling slowly as warmth seeped into my bones.My breath fogged up the glass, fading as the train jolted forward, carrying me toward the academy. I rested my head back, closing my eyes for a second.

…

…

…

At the academy, nothing was happening. At least, nothing worth mentioning.

Fridays had three classes on the schedule, and I endured them one by one until three o’clock finally rolled around—marking the end of another painfully boring, yet somehow not-so-trouble-free week.

By the time I was out in the hallway, I was ready to call it a day.

That didn’t last long. Henry was waiting for me, like clockwork. He had that focused look on his face—the kind he only wore when there was work to be done. No preamble, no unnecessary conversation—just straight to business. Without a word, he handed me a folded paper.

“More clues,” he said simply.

I unfolded it, glancing over the contents. Four more underground stations.

My shoulders sagged slightly, but I nodded, tucking the list into my bag. “Got it. We’ll check them out today.”

Henry gave a short nod, his job already done, and disappeared back into the sea of students. The rest of the group was just as drained as I was. Gina, Lore, and Caleb were deep in the depths of HyperSpace, teaming up with Caleb’s shady internet friends to dig up rumors and leaks about suspicious activity in the abandoned train stations.

Meanwhile, Alex had been interested in joining the investigation—until his phone rang.

Next thing I knew, he was jogging up to me, looking antsy, like he had somewhere to be but refused to leave without saying something first.

“Hey,” he started, rubbing the back of his neck. “Can’t come with you this time. Got an urgent call. Need to take care of it.”

I arched an eyebrow. “That sounds ominous.”

“It probably is,” he admitted, then grinned, that mischievous spark lighting up his face. “But—I’ve got a surprise for everyone tonight.”

I narrowed my eyes. “A surprise?”

“You’ll see,” he said cryptically, giving me a mock salute before hurrying off like some mysterious action hero.

“Okay, but see what exactly?” I called after him.

He was already gone. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Why is it always cryptic with him?”

At some point, Jade had appeared at my side, leaning casually against the lockers.

In the end, only Jade, Vinico, and I were left to handle Henry’s fresh list of sketchy locations. Jade, as usual, was ready to go—her excitement only slightly dulled by the exhaustion in her eyes.

“Let’s get this done as fast as possible,” Vinico said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “If we split up and actually focus, we might make some real progress.”

“Agreed,” I said.

My gaze flicked toward Jade just as she let out a big yawn, stretching her arms above her head like a lazy cat. I leaned in slightly, and blew air into her mouth. She jerked back instantly, eyes wide with pure betrayal.

“What was that?!” she choked out, practically stumbling a step away.

I shrugged, completely unfazed. “You yawned. I filled the void.”

Vinico, who had been adjusting his bag, paused and slowly turned to look at me. “…That’s not how yawns work.”

“You—” She pointed a threatening finger in my direction. “You air-attacked me.”

I smirked. “I was just helping. You looked like you needed extra oxygen.”

Jade squinted. “Oh. Ohhh, okay. Cool. Noted.”

I knew that tone. I was in danger.

Vinico sighed, shaking his head. “I’m pretending I didn’t see this.”

Before I could even react, Jade lunged forward, forcefully grabbing and holding my face—And before I could stop her, she blew air directly into my face.

I stumbled back, coughing dramatically, waving a hand. “Oh my—What is wrong with you?!”

Jade grinned triumphantly. “I was just helping. You looked like you needed extra air.”

Vinico groaned. “I hate you both.”

I wiped my face as if that would help. “That’s unsanitary.”

Jade snorted. “You literally just did it to me first.”

“Yeah, but mine was an act of kindness,” I shot back.

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And mine wasn’t?”

“No.”

Jade just grinned wider. “Sounds like a you problem.”

To be honest? Despite the exhaustion, I didn’t mind these long days and nights with her. I hated to admit it—even to myself—but spending time with Jade, especially when we managed to have fun in the middle of chaos, was something I actually looked forward to. And yeah, our impromptu ‘fun’ in the library had been a much-needed escape. Being around her didn’t make me feel more tired. Quite the opposite. It was like she had a way of transferring her endless, reckless energy to me—whether I liked it or not.

Anyway.

I nodded at Vinico, adjusting my bag as we headed out.

As we were heading out, I suddenly remembered Louvel, Temple, and Placid, we were supposed to meet later for our so-called ‘community service.’ The academy tried to dress it up like we were doing something noble, but really, it was just combat training with extra steps. Everyone knew it, but no one cared enough to argue.

I’d talked to them on Wednesday, throwing out the idea of joining the fight we were expecting tomorrow—if we found the underground auction location tonight. That was a big “if.” The whole operation was starting to feel like chasing smoke, but I held onto the hope that someone in the group would pull through with a lead.

Temple, Louvel, and Placid had seemed uncertain, though. Still, I sent them a message to meet us at the location we were heading to right now.

They were technically free labour, whereas I wasn’t getting paid anything to teach them so I was going to use them when I could. Hmph!

After thirty minutes of travel, Vinico, Jade, and I arrived at another train station. Unlike the underground stations we’d been combing through lately, this one was above ground and still fully operational. It was one of the oldest stations in the city, with a history stretching back over a century, and its façade reflected every bit of that age. Yellow brass doors gleamed dully in the pale afternoon light, and old-style windows framed the structure like something out of a period film.

Not that we were here to admire the architecture.

As we stepped in, Vinico glanced around, his eyes darting toward the ceiling-mounted cameras. He rubbed his chin dramatically, as if preparing to deliver some genius revelation.

“I’d like to multiply exponentially,” he said, turning to face us with the seriousness of a man about to propose a world-changing idea, “but there are cameras everywhere in this building. Splitting into more than three or four copies would definitely attract attention.”

He had a point. Hundreds of Vinicos running around the station would make our job a breeze—efficient, even. We could finish two hours’ worth of searching in twenty minutes flat. But that many clones would also guarantee a police call within minutes.

“It is a problem,” I admitted, scratching the back of my head as I considered the logistics. My gaze shifted to Jade, and as usual, she was already a step ahead.

“Don’t worry,” she said confidently, turning to Vinico. “I’ll take care of the cameras. You focus on searching.”

Vinico’s face lit up like she’d just handed him a golden ticket. “Really? You can take care of them?”

Jade nodded, “Piece of cake. Don’t worry about it.”

But Vinico wasn’t done yet. He squinted, his expression shifting into a look that clearly said, There’s more to this problem than you think.

Stolen novel; please report.

“What now?” I asked, already feeling the beginning of a headache.

“The people,” Vinico said, throwing his hands in the air. “What if they call the police? You know, a crowd of people suddenly seeing multiples of me running around might raise a few eyebrows.”

I sighed, wondering—not for the first time—if he just didn’t want to work. Still, the three of us glanced around, surveying the station. It wasn’t exactly packed; only a few people lingered near the platform and ticket counters, most absorbed in their own world.

“Is this really that big of a problem?” I asked, incredulous.

Jade shook her head. “I’ll take care of that too,” she said with an air of finality, brushing her hands off like it was nothing.

Vinico beamed at her, his grin so bright you’d think she’d offered him a lifetime supply of candy. “Thanks, Jade. You’re such a lifesaver. What would we do without you?”

I froze, my jaw tightening as I stared at him. Are you shameless?

Jade smiled back at him, like she was actually enjoying the attention.

Dammit, I thought, feeling a surge of irritation. I’ll beat him.

“Alright,” I said aloud, forcing a calm tone. “If Jade’s handling the cameras and the people, I’m guessing there’s nothing stopping you now, huh, Vinico?”

“Nothing at all!” he said cheerfully, practically bouncing on his heels. “Let’s do this!”

I shot Vinico an annoyed look as he glanced past me, his expression suddenly brimming with confidence. It was almost unsettling—like watching someone flip a switch. For a second, I couldn’t help but wonder if Jade had stopped using her meta nature to subtly mess with his head. That would explain the abrupt bravado.

And then he multiplied.

It started with a simple split: one became two, two became four, and four became eight.

Then it accelerated—eight to sixteen, thirty-two, sixty-four.

His clones popped into existence with rapid efficiency, multiplying exponentially like a biological invasion. Within seconds, the number of Vinicos had surged into the hundreds, maybe even more, flooding the station with identical figures.

The entire train station descended into chaos.

The people who had been minding their own business moments earlier were now screaming, sprinting toward any available exits like they were fleeing a villain’s attack. The once-muted, sleepy atmosphere of the station was gone, replaced by a cacophony of panicked voices and hurried footsteps. The Vinico swarm dived through every space with such coordinated precision that it looked almost rehearsed.

Some people tried calling for help, their frantic fingers jabbing at their phones. But it didn’t work. Jade had done her job—none of their devices were connecting to anything. A few unlucky souls, overwhelmed by the sudden madness, collapsed where they stood, clutching their chests or fainting outright. And the funniest part? Some people actually tried to fight the clones.

A man in a suit swung his briefcase at a pair of Vinicos, shouting incomprehensible threats, only for them to duck and split again, completely unbothered.

A group of teenagers tried throwing trash bins at the horde, but the clones scattered like an organized school of fish, regrouping almost immediately and continuing their task.

One kid tried to karate kick a clone. He missed. Fell flat on his ass.

I stayed put, watching it all unfold with a mix of fascination and secondhand embarrassment. The way Vinico’s clones swarmed the station made it look like an elaborate Olympic show, each one of them moving with perfect synchronization. Some of them were doing backflips onto ledges, scaling walls with gymnastic ease, and forming military-style formations to check every crevice of the space.

This wasn’t the chaotic, bumbling Vinico I was used to. It was controlled, efficient, and—dare I say it—impressive.

“Maybe he’s not as hopeless as I thought,” I muttered under my breath, though my tone carried a touch of skepticism.

Instead of diving into the fray, I made my way toward the coffee counter nearby.

The small café was empty except for a young woman crouched behind the counter, her wide eyes peeking over the edge like she’d seen a ghost.

I gave her a reassuring nod, motioning for her to stay hidden. The clones, for whatever reason, seemed to avoid the café entirely, their focus locked on the rest of the station.

Meanwhile, I leaned against the counter, watching as Vinico’s army moved like a swarm of ants on a mission. They knocked on every surface, checked every corner, and even pried open air vents to peek inside. One clone climbed a metal column like it was the most natural thing in the world, balancing precariously on the top to scout the area. Another formed a human pyramid to reach the ceiling panels, tapping on them with rhythmic precision.

It was fascinating to watch, and a small part of me couldn’t help but admire the sheer coordination he displayed. This was a far cry from the disorganized mess of our warehouse fight—this was calculated, deliberate, almost surgical.

Jade appeared beside me, a cup of coffee in her hand, completely unbothered by the chaos. “He’s really going for it?” she said, taking a casual sip.

“Yeah,” I replied, still watching as a group of clones executed a synchronized leap over a row of ticket machines. “I almost don’t recognize him.”

Jade scrunched up her nose, her smirk fading as she stared at the Vinico swarm. “You know,” she said, taking another sip of her coffee, “if his clones weren’t... naked, this would be a lot less weird.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “They’re not naked—they’re genderless. Completely smooth, no... you know.”

“That doesn’t make it better!” she exclaimed, her nose wrinkling further in exaggerated disgust. “They still look naked. Just because there’s nothing there doesn’t mean it’s not creepy. It’s like staring at a bunch of mannequin zombies running around.”

I glanced at the swarm, trying to see it from her perspective. The clones were, indeed, smooth and featureless where it counted, but the rest of them was still very Vinico: same sharp features, same lanky build, same mop of unruly hair. And yet, the lack of detail where it mattered did give them an uncanny, otherworldly vibe.

“Fair point,” I muttered. “They are... unsettling in groups.”

“Though, It’s just a small limitation of his meta nature. I mean, sure, it’s a little unsettling to look at, but it’s not bad. Honestly, he’s still better than a lot of cloning abilities I’ve seen.”

Jade raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Better how?”

“Well,” I said, gesturing toward the swarm of Vinicos with my coffee cup, “for one, he can split into thousands. Do you know how rare that is? Most cloning powers I’ve heard of can only manage two or three clones at a time before their users hit some kind of wall. And that’s not even the worst part—some metas can’t even control their clones properly once they split. It turns into a disaster every time.”

Jade tilted her head, considering this. “Okay, fair point. At least Vinico doesn’t have clones running off to start their own lives or getting into fights with each other.”

“Exactly,” I said, nodding. “His clones are coordinated, efficient, and, for better or worse, completely under his control. Sure, they’re a little creepy to look at, but compared to those side effects? He’s got a pretty great deal.”

Jade sighed, swirling the last of her coffee in her cup. “Alright, I’ll give him credit for that. He’s annoying, but his meta nature is impressive. I just wish it didn’t look like a nightmare come to life.”

I smirked. “Baby steps, Jade. Maybe he’ll develop a clothing update one day.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled, her irritation fading. “A girl can dream.”

Suddenly, the Original Vinico with clothes on leaped over the counter, landing near us with the grace of someone who clearly enjoyed showing off.

The young woman behind the counter screamed, clutching her apron as if it were some kind of shield. Her wide eyes darted between him and the horde of identical clones swarming the station.

“Why are you two just sitting here?” Vinico demanded, throwing us an annoyed look. “You could at least pretend to be useful.”

Jade remained unfazed, while I shrugged casually. “You’re doing fine. Why mess with perfection?”

Vinico rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned his attention to the trembling barista, who looked like she was about two seconds away from bolting.

“Hey,” he said, pointing lazily toward the coffee machine behind her. “Can I get a cup too?”

The young woman stiffened. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“A-are you a villain?” she stammered, her eyes flicking between us and the chaos unfolding outside.

Vinico froze, blinking at her in sheer disbelief, before tilting his head toward the ceiling—as if asking the universe why it hated him.

He let out a slow sigh. “No,” he said flatly, dragging out the word like it physically pained him. “I’m not a villain.”

Then, with a dramatic wave of his hand, he gestured toward me and Jade, as if our presence alone would somehow reassure her.

“They’re not villains either.”

Jade raised an eyebrow at me. I smirked. Not villains is technically not the same as good people.

“We’re… uh, just looking for something,” Vinico continued, running a hand through his hair. “Once we find it, we’ll be out of your hair. Promise.”

The girl relaxed slightly, though her hands still trembled as she fiddled with the edge of her apron. She wasn’t entirely convinced, but she nodded stiffly, keeping her distance.

And then—

In true Vinico fashion—he switched gears entirely.

His usual annoyed demeanor melted away, replaced by that effortless, casual charm he kept stored for moments just like this.

Vinico leaned against the counter, flashing her a crooked smile.

“So,” he said smoothly, “what’s your name? You in university or something?”

Jade and I both did a double take.

Jade choked on her coffee, barely managing to stifle a coughing fit as she turned her head away.

I just stared at him, torn between amusement and disbelief.

Of course, he’s flirting now.

The girl—who had moments ago been on the verge of panic—hesitated, her wide eyes narrowing slightly as she processed his sudden tone shift.

“Uh…” she started, still cautious. “I’m Lily.”

Vinico’s grin widened, his confidence thriving the moment she answered.

“Lily, huh? Nice name.” He nodded approvingly, like he was judging her parents' baby-naming skills. “You studying anything interesting?”

She fidgeted with her apron, still glancing nervously at the clones swarming outside.

“…Psychology,” she said quietly. Then, her curiosity finally won over her nerves, and she looked back at him. “But… what are you looking for?”

“Nothing you need to worry about,” Vinico said smoothly, his tone light and effortless. “We’re just cleaning up a bit of a mess.”

He leaned forward slightly, his usual cocky grin softening into something more genuine.

And somehow, it worked.

Lily’s shoulders relaxed, just a little, the wariness still there but no longer screaming in every fiber of her being. A faint hint of color rose to her cheeks.

“…Okay,” she murmured, almost inaudibly.

Vinico leaned back, clearly pleased with himself, and threw me a smug glance as if to say:

See? This is how it’s done.

I rolled my eyes, muttering, “Maybe focus on the search, Romeo.”

Jade, to my absolute shock, was beaming—sipping her coffee with barely contained amusement.

“Oh, come on,” she teased. “He’s multitasking. Don’t ruin his moment.”

His moment?

I squinted at her, genuinely baffled. Since when did she enjoy romance? Was this the same Jade who once solved her social problems by punching people at the academy just for talking to her?

Growth was terrifying.

Lily, though still visibly nervous, offered a small, hesitant smile.

Vinico basked in it for a second before straightening up and giving her a polite nod. “Thanks, Lily.”

And that should have been the end of it. Should have been. Instead, as he turned to head back into the fray, he paused dramatically—then spun on his heel like he’d just been struck by a brilliant idea.

I groaned internally. This wasn’t going to end well.

“To put your mind at ease,” Vinico began, his voice dripping with exaggerated charm, “I should probably mention that I’m a student at Beyonder’s Academy.”

Then—because of course he did—he reached into his pocket and, to my utter disbelief, pulled out his academy ID, holding it up like it was a golden ticket.

Lily froze. Her eyes widened as she took in the ID, realization hitting her like a train.

“You’re from Beyonder’s?” she asked, her voice an odd mix of surprise and awe.

“Yep,” Vinico said smoothly, his smirk stretching wider.

Then—because he wasn’t done being extra—he gestured toward Jade and me with a grand, sweeping motion.

“We all are.”

I let out a quiet, disbelieving snort.

Really?

He was actually playing the academy card?

It was such an unnecessary flex. Sure, the girl was cute—okay, pretty—but this was not the time or place to impress her with our credentials. And just when I thought at least Jade would let him crash and burn— She actually backed him up.

“He’s not lying,” Jade said casually, tilting her head toward me. “We’re all from Beyonder’s. You don’t need to worry.”

I turned to her, genuinely appalled. “Seriously?”

Jade shrugged, completely unbothered. “What? It’s true.”

Vinico grinned, clearly thriving. “See? Validation.”

Lily blinked at us, still absorbing the information. “I thought… I thought Beyonder students weren’t allowed to—”

“Oh, we’re definitely not allowed to,” I cut in.

Vinico shot me a look. “Way to sell it, dude.”

Lily’s fear visibly melted away, replaced by genuine curiosity. Her gaze flicked between the three of us, lingering on the ID in Vinico’s hand.

“That’s... amazing,” she said, her tone soft but filled with wonder. “I’ve heard so much about the academy. It's every kid’s dream in the city to get into it.”

Vinico’s smirk turned into a full-blown grin, and I could practically hear the smugness radiating from him as he glanced at me. It was the kind of look that said see, I told you I’ve got this.

I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. Meanwhile, Jade gave me a sidelong glance, her silver eyes dancing with amusement. “Don’t look at me like that,” she said under her breath, barely suppressing a laugh. “He’s not hurting anyone.”

“Yet,” I muttered, crossing my arms as Vinico continued his conversation with Lily, clearly reveling in her now-relaxed demeanor.

Honestly?

It was hard to stay annoyed.

For all his antics, Vinico had actually accomplished something I hadn’t expected—he’d turned a tense situation into something almost… normal.

Even if he did have to flash his flashiest card to do it. Still, as I watched him lean on the counter and flash another charming smile, I couldn’t resist shooting him a look that said, You owe me for not stopping this.

As Vinico continued chatting with the cute barista, his clones were still in full swing, combing through every corner of the station with military precision. Their numbers began to dwindle after fifteen minutes, melting back into him one by one until the station was finally clone-free.

With the last clone reabsorbed, Vinico turned back to us, his face falling into a disappointed frown. “Nothing,” he said flatly, shaking his head.

All three of us furrowed our brows. After all the effort, the chaos, and the scene he’d caused, we’d come up empty.

I clicked my tongue, my eyes narrowing slightly. “We should get out of here. The amount of commotion we just caused, and from the people who escaped earlier definitely called the police—or worse, the City Protectors. We don’t have much time.”

Vinico sighed dramatically, but he didn’t argue. “Fine, fine. Let’s clean this up.”

We moved quickly, wiping any trace of our presence from the station. Jade, as always, took the lead, using her meta nature to shift the odds in our favor. The surveillance cameras were already glitching but at just the right moments, the electricity itself made a cut, and anyone who might have been suspicious suddenly found themselves distracted by minor inconveniences—a dropped wallet, a spilt coffee, a sudden need to check their phones.

Meanwhile, Vinico lingered near the counter, exchanging a few last words with Lily. To my growing disbelief, he actually managed to get her phone number, scribbled hastily onto a napkin with a smiley face at the end.

By the time we left the station, everything had fallen perfectly into place. No one stopped us. No alarms were raised. Even the lingering tension in the air seemed to dissipate as Jade ensured our exit was as smooth as possible. Once we were outside, far enough from the station to feel relatively safe, I glanced at Vinico, who was grinning like he’d just won the lottery.

I squinted at him, half-annoyed, half-impressed. “I can’t believe you actually got her number.”

Vinico flashed me a smug look before tucking the napkin into his pocket with an unnecessary amount of flair. “What can I say?” He sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. “Some people just can’t resist my charm.”

Jade rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips.

“Let’s just hope she doesn’t regret it after we’re done with… all this.”

Vinico grinned wider.

“Not a chance.”

I gave him a look. “You do realize she gave you her number while she was in mild shock, right?”

Vinico shrugged, completely unbothered. “Details.”

Jade sipped her coffee, watching us with amusement. “I give it two days before she ghosts you.”

Vinico scoffed. “Oh, please. I’m un-ghostable.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s not a word.”

“It is now.”