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"That's great, Jude Congratulations I'm really proud of you"

His eyes shifted to ain Since his skin was so pale, it was easy to see the hint of pink that stained his cheeks

"You ready to go?" I asked

Jude nodded We didn't talk after that and Jude ed to stay awake in the car as we headed back to his apartiven Andy a heads-up to ot back to Jude’s apartment, it was just me and Jude At Jude’s door, I found o as he stepped into his doorway

"Why don't you let ested "I make a mean omelet"

For a ht Jude would take ap in the door When his eyes ain, they were heavy with some kind of emotion that I couldn't name He actually closed the door just a little bit more as if he were afraid I’d see into his apartment

Despite having shadowed him for weeks, I still hadn't been in his private space I couldn’t really make sense of his reluctance to let ination was in overdrive Maybe he had pictures of him and Hayes in there that he didn’t wantto lose the last of his privacy In any case, I didn't press it

"Solad that he was even talking to me at all

“Good night, Nikolai," Jude h the door and shut it behind hie I lifted my hand to knock on the door so I could re before he went to sleep but I caught ers made contact with the wood What he did behind closed doors was none of my business I was there to keep him safe from threats

Nothing more

I dropped my hand and turned my back so I could face the hallway While I waited for Andy, I tried to remind myself over and over that Jude Archer was just a job

But I kneas a lie He had stopped being a job a long tio And fuck if that wasn't a problem