JJ
At nine thirty the next morning, I had already checked my station four times.
Everything was where it belonged. Fresh barriers covered the surfaces, ink caps were lined up, the machine was wrapped, and the stencil printer had been tested twice. My license finally hung behind reception, which should have made the whole thing feel official. Instead, I kept finding reasons to touch equipment I had already checked.
Nixx leaned against the reception counter watching me move a tray half an inch to the left.
“You’re hovering.”
“I’m preparing.”
“You prepared yesterday.”
“I prepared again.”
His mouth twitched. “Want me to leave?”
I looked toward the front windows. “No.”
That answer came easier than I expected.
Benny was in the clubhouse with Millie finishing schoolwork, and Nixx had o
