“Lauren.” Saint coughed into his elbow. “She’s usually blowing up your phone by now.”
I checked the time. He wasn’t wrong, but I’d been too caught up in my Folk-themed thoughts to notice. “She doesn’t harass me as much when she has Ivy with her.”
“I thought she might harass you more to ruin your time with your... boyfriend.”
Again, I couldn’t tell if Saint’s hesitation was deliberate, if he was taking the piss, or simply struggling to say what he wanted to say.
He wasn’t a brother who made fun of people very often. It wasn’t a stretch for him to be careful with his precious words, but whatever his intentions, he made a valid point. Aside from the usual messages telling me I’d ruined some random piece of school uniform, I hadn’t heard from Lauren in twenty-four hours.
Disquiet bloomed in my gut. I pulled out my phone and scowled at the blank screen. “You think I should call her?”
Saint’s glower said no, and he fished his own phone from his pocket and tapped out a text.
Saint:alexei can hack the school admin system and check ivy’s there
Fuck. Conflict raged in me. Alexei’s mad hacker skills were a step too far for me on any normal day, but if it saved me a stroke-inducing conversation with my ex-wife, maybe it was the right time to let him help me.
I gave Saint a sharp nod and stomped back to the HGV I’d been packing when he’d popped up in the landing bay. I figured it’d take Alexei an hour or so to work his magic, and I wasn’t in the mood to stand around.
Saint tapped me on the shoulder a minute later, holding up his phone again to show me a text from Alexei—at least, I assumed it was Alexei. The name assigned to the message wasn’t one I recognised.
Alyosha:She is there. I can check camera footage too...?
“No. Jesus. Don’t let him do that.”
Saint relayed the message without comment.
Then he eyed me again and I found zero comfort in his mossy gaze. Alexei’s assurance was enough for me...probably, but it didn’t seem to be enough for him, and I ran out of rope. “What is it? If you think Ivy’s not safe, you have to fucking tell me.”
“It’s not that. It’s just...” Saint choked. I waited. But nothing happened, and eventually he made an awful, frustrated sound and walked away.
I couldn’t go after him. The wagons needed loading before Cam and Rubi led them out. Because I had a job that I desperately needed to give Ivy a life worth living. I couldn’t walk out on it because Saint was on one and I was too fucking thick to understand him.
True facts.
I went back to work, blasting through the loading at record speed.
When I was done, I sought Saint out, catching him as he swung a leg over his bike.
I knew better than to touch him. I settled for a contrite grimace. “Sorry I was a dick. I’m listening if you’ve got time to explain what’s bugging you?”
Saint leaned back in his saddle. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault I can’t string a sentence together.”
“It isn’t yours either.”
“I wasn’t trying to make you worry more.”
“I know.”
“But it’s weird that Lauren isn’t on your back more than ever, right?” Saint tapped his fingers on the handlebars of his bike. A restless rhythm that seemed to unsettle him more than calm him. “Why would she stop doing something that works so well?”
“I don’t know.” I’d given up trying to understand Lauren. “Maybe she’s got a boyfriend again? That keeps her busy sometimes.”
Saint mulled on that. “You have Ivy tonight?”
“For the next three days, if I don’t get fucked around.”
“So she’s got time to hook up.” Saint’s drumming grew faster. Louder. “I’ll check it out later.”
