Page 197 of Red Marked

“I know you fairly well, even though we haven’t known each other long.” He doesn’t look up from his plate. “And the rental lot is nowhere near your parents’ side of town.”

I let out a breath that turns into a laugh. Then it doesn’t stay a laugh.

“I saw my brother.” My voice cracks. “I saw Koda. He was getting out of a car. His own car, Flint. My baby brother drives now. I mean, I knew he probably did, but it was different seeing it. He’s nearly as tall as you. He has broad shoulders now…not nearly as wide as yours.” I press the napkin against my nose. “The last time I saw him, he was a gangly kid who still let me hug him in front of his friends. I’ve missed all of it. His first girlfriend. His driver’s license. I missed him graduating high school.” The tears run over, and I don’t bother wiping them. “I don’t want to miss any more. I can’t.”

His hand finds my back. He rubs slow circles between my shoulder blades, round and round, until my breathing evens out.

“You won’t,” he says. “We’ll find a way. This is going to happen, Star. Trust me on this. We’re close.”

He says it looking right at me, flat and certain.

Something in my chest loosens. I believe him. I don’t know why, when we have nothing to go on, but I do.

“Thank you.” I sniff and blow my nose.

He takes his phone out of his pocket. “I have something that might help. Magma sent these a little earlier.” He swipes and holds it so I can see.

It’s Savanna on a beach, grinning with sand stuck to her shins. Then Caldera, at a café table with a slice of cake the size of her head. Then all three of them on a sofa, squashed together, laughing at something off to one side.

He swipes to the last one.

Koa is smiling at the camera. Her cheeks have filled out, and her belly is a little rounder than it was. A human female has an arm around her shoulders. Her face is familiar.

I frown, trying to place it.

My eyes get teary all over again. “Look at her. She’s put on weight. Her belly has grown so much.” I touch the screen. “Who is that with her?”

“Robyn Keller. She’s a friend of mine. She’s the doctor who came to fetch them.”

Oh yes! Of course.

“She’s your friend?”

He nods. “And Ridge’s mate. Apparently Koa, Carla, and Robyn have become close.” He looks down at the photo. “Koa’s doing much better. She’s taking it one day at a time.”

“That’s good news.” I hand the phone back. “I’m so happy for them.”

He takes my empty plate from my lap, puts it on the counter, and spoons some cobbler into a clean one. It’s still warm. The syrup has soaked into the crust. He hands it to me with a fresh plastic spoon.

The first bite is so good, I close my eyes.

“Thank you,” I tell him. “For all of this. For everything. I’m sorry for being such a burden.”

“Don’t even say that, Star, because it isn’t true.”

I give him a look. “You could be doing a million other things right now instead of feeding a sad female in a hotel room. You could have gone to Draig with Razor.”

He gives me a look over the top of his spoon. “I’m single, but I don’t want to trawl an island looking for females. That isn’t my thing anymore.” He scoops up some cobbler but doesn’t eat it. “I do miss my dad. I need to go and see him at some point. My friends too. But right now, I’m here helping you. There is nowhere else I would rather be. I mean that.”

“Thank you.” I bump his shoulder with mine.

He doesn’t bump back. He puts his plate on his knee, and his thumb starts working at the rim, pressing and smoothing the paper edge over and over.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Something isn’t sitting right with me.” His finger freezes.

My stomach drops. “What?”