My breath hitches.
She said it so casually, so certain, like it’s already written in stone.
I clear my throat, barely holding it together. “Kiera, please don’t tell me you’ve given up. Mercs said there’s a procedure.”
She shrugs. “There is. But getting it all lined up in time is the hard part. I’ve made peace with whatever happens. Gran has too. We’ve got things in place. But Kaden? He’s not ready.” She squeezes my hand. “Promise me you’ll be there for him when I’m not.”
Tears sting my eyes. I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I p-promise.”
She hugs me tight, and I hold her just as fiercely.
I don’t know how long we stay like that before Mercs and Gran walk back in.
Quickly, I wipe my face, but Mercs sees, and he walks over, his eyes narrowed, jaw tight, and sits back beside me.
He sees the tear tracks, reaches out, and brushes my cheek. “I made you cry, baby.” He frowns. “I’m sorry.”
Kiera stiffens, probably worried I’ll say too much, but I won’t. That was her truth to share.
“I just wish you had told me about Lilah, that’s all,” I say honestly. “I don’t like surprises. And that one felt pretty big.”
“I know,” he says softly. “I honestly didn’t expect her to be working here. She must have just started. I didn’t bring it up because she doesn’t matter anymore. I didn’t want to upset you.”
“Upset me?”
He shrugs. “I didn’t want you thinking I came home to… bump into her. I knew she might be around, but I was hoping we wouldn’t cross paths.”
“You’re a dick,” I mutter.
Kiera giggles into her straw.
“What? Why?” he asks.
“Because if you’d just told me, I wouldn’t have been blindsided. I wouldn’t have sat here like a clueless idiot while everyone else in the diner knew your history but me.”
He grimaces. “You’re right. I… I hate being the talk of this place. I was hoping to avoid the drama.”
“Well, now you’re dating a rock star. So maybe we start a new town scandal.”
He chuckles, relief softening his face when he takes my hand. “And this is why I never want to let you go.”
I glance at Kiera, who’s smiling brightly again. She looks better, stronger, and that makes me feel better too.
“Well,” I say. “How about we eat some of this damn pie before it gets cold?”
“Yes, please.” Kiera groans, already digging in.
Mercs’ hand slides under the table and rests on my knee while he eats with his other hand. I grab my fork and finally taste the pie that Gran hyped up.
It’s amazing.
Across the diner, I catch movement. Lilah’s behind the counter again, serving customers, but watching us, and she looks frazzled.
Worse, she looks unfinished.
And even though Mercs says he wants nothing to do with her.
I can’t help but wonder…
