Chapter 16

Alex's POV

Kyle's laughter died down as he noticed the annoyance on my face. He quickly composed himself and stepped closer to me.

"Hey, sorry if I crossed a line. I didn't mean to upset you," he said, his tone apologetic.

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and exhaustion. "It's fine, Kyle. I'm just not in the best mood right now."

Nathan, who had been observing the interaction from the doorway, walked over to us. He placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"Give her a break, Kyle. We've had a long day," Nathan said, shooting a warning glance at his brother.

Kyle nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, I get it. Sorry, Alex."

I nodded in acknowledgement, appreciating Kyle's attempt to diffuse the situation. After a moment, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

"Look, I think I just need some time alone," I said, my voice a little more composed. "I'll finish up here and then retreat to my room for a while