Page 29 of Returning to Pine Ridge
Sofia’s eyes widen. “You’re staying?”
“Maybe. If I can figure out how to make it work financially.”
Lucas looks confused. “But you live in Denver, Uncle Atlas.”
“I did,” I say. “But I think maybe I want to live here now. At least for a while.”
Emma grabs my hand. “Does that mean you can come to my soccer games?”
“I think it does,” I say, squeezing her small hand.
Sofia comes over to me and pulls me into a hug. She’s trembling slightly.
“I’m glad. I’m really glad.”
“Even though I’ve been lying to you?”
“Even though you’ve been lying to me,” she confirms. “But you’re here now and that’s what matters.”
She pulls back and looks at me seriously. “And for what it’s worth, I think Kai is good for you. He makes you different. Better. More like yourself.”
“Dad said something similar,” I say.
Sofia grins. “Then it must be true. Come on, help me put away the groceries. And then you can tell me everything. All of it. No more lies.”
Emma tugs on my sleeve again. “Can we have a snack?”
“I think we can manage that,” I say, and she beams at me like I’ve just promised her the world.
After helping the kids make sandwiches, I spend the rest of the afternoon in my room, going through the information Jordan sent. I organize it, create a presentation outline, make notes about the key points we need to hit. The work gives me purpose and takes me back to when I had a job and goals. I didn’t realize how lost I was beyond the money and housing issue. But now what I have will help convince the community that HelixGen Corp is a threat.
Despite everything, my mind keeps drifting to Kai. To the way he looked when I said there was nothing in Pine Ridge for me. To the hurt that flashed across his face before he covered it up.
Even though I didn’t mean it like it sounded, I can see why he’d be hurt. I downplayed what he means to me by more than a mile. I need to fix this.
The next morning, I wake up early and drive to the Bookshelf Café. I order two coffees and a selection of pastries—David’s famous cinnamon rolls, some croissants, a few other things that look good. Then I drive to Kai’s apartment, my heart racing slightly as I park.
I knock on the door, holding the coffee and pastries like a peace offering.
Kai opens the door, surprise in his expression. He’s still in sleep clothes—the same soft gray sweatpants he wore when I stayed over and a T-shirt—and his hair is messy. He’s never looked so beautiful, but also vulnerable and like someone I’ve hurt.
“Hi,” I say softly. “I brought coffee. And pastries. And an apology.”
10
KAI
I step backto let Atlas in, but I keep my expression neutral. I take the coffee and the bag from him and move into the kitchen, where I set everything down on the counter.
“What’s happening?” I ask, turning to him.
There’s tension in his movements, like he’s bracing himself for a fight.
“I didn’t mean to say what I said yesterday,” he says. “I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“Which part?”
He runs his hand through his hair. “You know what I’m talking about.”
