Edrick broke the silence first, his voice light and casual. "Hi, Mason," he greeted, giving a small wave as if they were just running into each other on the street. "I didn't expect to be at the same table as you and Ellen tonight."
Mason's expression didn't change much—he remained calm, but there was a bit of a sharp tone to it. "Yeah," he said, nodding slightly as he leaned back in his chair. "Neither did I. It's a small world, I guess."
Ellen glanced between them, picking up on something weird in their chat that she couldn't quite figure out. It was subtle, but there was something in Mason's tone that made her uneasy. The casualness of their exchange seemed almost too forced, as if they were both playing a part.
"It seems like you and Ellen have gotten close really fast," Mason added, his gaze resting on Edrick as he spoke. There was a hint of curiosity in his words, but also something else—something that made Ellen's stomach tighten slightly.
