“He has a gift for exaggeration, that one,” Ahri said. “It’s a food pantry, and he helped me stock shelves with donations from local grocery stores one afternoon. You know, dented cans and stuff they can’t sell but is still edible.”
“He told me he enjoyed it and signed up to help again.” Cass glanced over at the guys, a small curve to her mouth. “He’s from a well-to-do family, and I think it was an eye-opening experience for him.”
Ahri didn’t mention that Bill had been uncomfortable with it and had insisted on doing a background search on everyone on the payroll. He’d only agreed to her going the one time and had only allowed her to work in the back. Since the hacking attempts on the security of the New York penthouse had continued, he thought the transient nature of the place would make it easier for someone who was looking for her to go unnoticed.
He hadn’t said it outright, but that made Ahri think he was worried they might not only be focusing on New York. That had given her a sleepless night which made her angry that thesepeople she didn’t even know could control her life without even being there. She was determined to live as normal a life as possible.
“Are you making friends?” Cass asked, pulling Ahri from her thoughts. Cass arched a brow and gave hera tell me all, girllook. “Are you dating anyone?”
“I’ve been out a couple of times with groups, once with people from work and another with the members of my community ed class. And, yes,” Ahri said before her friend could press, “I’ve been on a couple of dates, but I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”
How could she tell her that the high point of her life came on Friday nights when she played REKD with the guys? She’d learned not to schedule a Friday night date for that very reason. They took turns hosting at their apartments and supplying the treats. Ezreal still wouldn’t talk to her except during a game, but he did occasionally look at her. Darius had provided some great feedback on her graphics class project too.
“So you’re settling in.”
“I am.” It surprised Ahri how quickly she’d come to feel at home in this place and with these people, much more so than she had in recent years in Arizona. She and Taliyah were drifting apart. She was expecting again—her last one, she insisted—and pregnancy never agreed with her. It made her sick and cranky. Their last phone call had been a little terse. Ahri might have to wait until after the baby was born to talk to her friend more.
“How many children do you think you’ll have?” Ahri asked, and Cass laughed.
“That’s probably not the best thing to ask a woman who just gave birth a few weeks ago and whose newborn just slept through the night for the first time.” She sighed. “Six solid hours. When I woke this morning, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. I’m such a boring person now, appreciating simple things like sleep.”
“They’re so much work, such a responsibility.” Ahri brushed aside a curl of dark hair from the baby’s forehead.
“I never dreamed I’d feel this way.” Cass’s eyes shone. “My mother used to tell me that a baby was proof that your heart could live outside of your body, and I thought she was exaggerating. Now I completely understand.”
As Ahri drove home later after promising to come again, she thought about her friend’s words. Cass could say things like that from the safety of a loving, secure relationship. How could Ahri ever find one if she couldn’t get over her fixation with Rafe?
Ahri had been thinkingabout that when she drove to work on Monday. It was still on her mind during a rare lull at the office when she glanced out her window and saw Kayn outside. His outdoor meeting had just ended and his team scattered, but he continued to sit on a bench by himself.
“I’m taking a break, Kris.”
“I’ll be here,” he said without looking up from his work.
Ahri made her way to her brother and sat beside him.
“Hey.” He took one look at her face and closed his laptop. “You look like you need to talk. Want to go to my apartment?”
“This should be fine.”
“What’s bothering you? Zed?”
“Am I that obvious?” She rubbed her forehead.
“You’ve been through a lot.” Kayn shot her a sympathetic glance.
“It’s so much more than that. I feel like I’m making progress but . . .”
“But what?”
“I used to think I was a good judge of character.”
“You know I never liked Zed. I thought he was too much into money and status, but I honestly thought you’d help him get over that since you’re not.”
“How much has Bill told you?” she asked.
“Everything he’s told you. I know they’ve had to up security at the penthouse several times.”
“Not that.” She straightened, not wanting to think of Sona sitting there playing the decoy.
