Shrugging, I bounced on the balls of my feet, then dodged around him and headed to the ugly orange couch in the living room. “If the boss wants to kill me, it’s already done. I can’t take it back.”
Rowen groaned, but he didn’t look like he thought Sloan was about to burst through the front door with a machete or anything. I snatched up the remote from the coffee table and flopped on the middle of the couch. Normally Rowen took the white armchair, but instead, for whatever reason, he sat at my side, close enough I could feel his heat. I was comfortable and it didn’t take me long to flip through Netflix and find a funny movie. He agreed with a nod, and I turned it on.
Rowen’s warmth against my side had me relaxing, and I must’ve conked out because when I groggily blinked my eyes open, Rowen’s arm was around me and my head was resting on his chest.
I groaned. “Sorry. Was up early today.”
“No worries,” he said lightly and squeezed his arm around me. “Ye’re cozy.”
I didn’t move, and he didn’t make me, and my eyes were drifting shut again when it hit me that I was hearing the opening music for a new movie.
“Where’s Vail?” I rubbed my cheek against Rowen’s firm pec. “Did he get home? Didn’t he want to chill with us?”
Rowen stiffened against me and at his sharp inhale, I popped upright. My heart pounded and I felt like I could run a mile.
“No,” he said quietly and checked his wristwatch. “No, he’s not back.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Shoulda been home an hour ago by all rights.” He was quick to text Vail. We’d started a group chat for just the three of us since Aspen and Cillian were out of town, but he didn’t answer. My phone vibrated, so I knew the text had gone through.
We waited. Rowen tugged me close again, almost as if he needed the support.
“Sometimes he misses texts. Call?” I asked.
He nodded and pursed his lips, already moving to do what I’d suggested. A minute later there was still nothing back from Vail.
“Call Lor,” I said, shaking off what was left of my sluggishness.
“Aye, Vail’s wee assistant might know where he is,” Rowen murmured and poked at his phone screen.
I bit the inside of my bottom lip until it twinged with pain.
He shook his head as he pressed the phone to his ear, and the ringback tone was loud enough that I could hear it. He didn’t leave a message.
“Should I text Aspen and Cillian and let them—”
“No,” he breathed out. “That’s a terrible idea. They can’t do a thing in Florida, except worry. It’s one call.” He flashed a smile. “Let’s give them some time to get back to us. I’ll make us a cuppa, shall I?”
“Sure.” I turned off the TV, then followed him out into the kitchen. White tiles gleamed on the floor, went halfway up the walls, and created a backsplash behind the counters. The room seemed even brighter than usual because the window over the sink was dark. I leaned against the island and smoothed my palm across the gray oak top. The lights were off in the formal dining room when I peeked that direction. The bar separated the kitchen from the round table, where we all sat to eat together most of the time. Everything was clean and the way it should be—minus Vail.
“Yer insulin pump okay?” Rowen asked as he walked toward the stove.
The question seemed random, but he was in worry mode, so maybe it wasn’t. Sighing, I opened my phone and showed him the app for the pump. “It’ll let me know if things aren’t all right.”
He frowned at me.
“It’s fine.” I raised my phone higher in the air.
“Okay.” He took the kettle from the stove to the sink and filled it.
About fifteen minutes went by with him making a production of brewing tea, but by the time we both had our hands wrapped around steaming mugs, there was still no word from Vail or Lor. Rowen tried to sip his tea and hissed.
“Och, me tongue,” he said with a sigh.
I stirred a teaspoon of sugar into my mug while he frowned at me, but I ignored him. “That’s something you need to keep in top condition.” I winked. “There are people in this house who depend on it.”
He snorted out a laugh but worry sparkled in his eyes as we both stared at our phones where we’d laid them out side by side on the island top. I broke first and tried to call Vail, then Lor. He tried again. We had finished our tea and the mugs were washed and in the drainer by the time I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Do you know where they were tutoring?” I asked, going over to lean my shoulder against his. He was back to staring at his phone.
Rowen inhaled sharply. “No, but Sloan has someone who sets up the schedule for them. I could text the boss and try to find out.”
