Stan disappears for some time and comes back with a paper bag of airport food. He stares down at it with a pout. “I want it on record,” he says, “that if I die, this was the murder weapon.”
I poke at the soggy fries he takes out. “You bought it.”
“They marketed it as food, Ocean Eyes. Pretty sure that’sentrapment.”
Em’s been staring through the glass windows. I slide the fries her way and wait. Eventually, she picks one up and eats it. Small wins.
I learn, after sitting for so long, that airports stretch time in aweird way. A minute feels like an hour. Then an hour disappears in seconds.
Some more time passes, and then Stan straightens with a smile on his face. “Heads up! Here comes the power couple.”
Damon and Kayla come through the gate. They look exactly as I remember them before the fall.
Damon’s walking tall, dressed in a dark suit that fits like it was tailored by someone who hates wrinkles. His eyes go to Idris and Darius first, then to us.
Kayla’s impossible to miss. Long brown curls. Fur winter coat thrown over a fitted dress. Heeled leather boots clicking across the floor. She smirks the second she spots Stan.
“Oh thank fuck,” she says. “You survived, you big lug.”
Stan beams. “Obviously. And before you say anything, I’m spoken for.”
Her brow lifts. “Who’s the lucky fella?” Her gaze slides over to me. “Or should I sayunlucky?”
“Nil’s the lucky guy,” Stan says, chest puffing up. “Fully, carnally, completely destroyed by his big, thick di—”
Damon steps in smooth, hand extended toward me. “It’s good to see you again,” he says. “Cali—”
“Nope!” Stan cuts in, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “This isNil. He’s spoken for. By me. By my mouth. And other parts.”
Damon shoots his brother a look that could cut glass. “Nil,” he repeats, staring at me. “I’ll make a note of the change, but I’m curious why you don’t use your given one.”
“I don’t feel like answering to it yet,” I say with a shrug.
Damon studies me when he says, “Understood.”
Kayla lights up, walking over to me. “That sounds like something your sister would say.”
Hearing about her warms my chest. I smile a little at Kayla in silentthanks.
She turns to Em. “Hi again, Em. Wish we saw each other under better circumstances.”
Em lifts her gaze. “Hello, Kayla.”
Kayla smirks. “It’s Kaye,” she tells her. “You told me you’d try calling me that, remember?”
Em looks back down at her food.
“She’s eating,” I say. “Maybe we’ll talk later?”
Kayla’s brows shoot up a bit, but she smiles. “Yep, no problem.”
Darius and Idris return to our spot. Idris greets Damon with relief. Darius nods at him. The three men drift into a low conversation near the glass wall.
I’d listen, but behind me, Stan and Kayla keep sniping at each other.
“You look like shit,” Kayla tells him.
“You look like a divorce waiting to happen,” he shoots back.
