When I took my coffee outside this morning, headphones, ipad and plans for half an hour of privacy in the pouring rain under protection of the glass-covered pergola, I was surprised to find Schuyler already there. He's ready for his day and waiting for me, clearly.
Where's Lochlan?
Sleeping. If you need him I can get-
No, I'll talk to him after.
Want coffee?
Oh, I want to talk to you as well.
With...coffee or without?
May as well stay here. Knowing you if I send you in for more coffee you'll go straight out the front door with your car keys because somehow over the past twenty years I have been 'scary'.
Not scary, just...foreboding? Maybe? I don't know.
All those pages and suddenly you don't have words?
Schuyblue-
No nicknames today, Bridget. We can't operate a Collective like this by force. We've learned that. So if I have some sort of vibe that's off I need to fix that.
Schuyler, I don't think I need anyone else trying to fix anything here.
You forget who you're talking to, Bridg-
THAT. That's what happens. Who am I talking to? Why do you stalk Jacob and know absolutely every single thing that's going on? I know you and Caleb somehow work together to keep an eye on everyone but at the same time you are far less but far more frightening for it.
We're all just trying to be strong for you. That's it. You know how it goes. We check each other now. So nothing goes too far.
So nothing goes too far.
Bridget-
I get it. Just far enough but not too far so that you can't live with yourselves.
He stares at me. It's six in the morning. It's too early for this and we're doing it anyway.