"It's the onions."
She lets me go and pokes her tongue out. "What are you making? Since when are you a cook?"
I shake my head.
It's really a sign she doesn't know me, just like, I guess, Enzo.
"Not a cook, but I can cook some things. This is New York, land of endless delivery and cuisines. But...I was craving chicken noodle soup."
Her eyes light up as she drops them to my stomach. "Cravings? Already."
"Don't." I put down the knife.
I don't want anyone else to know. The first other person needs to be the doctor and then Enzo.
IfI tell him.
Because his helicopter protectiveness and tight control do frighten me. I don't want a child kept in a castle or wrapped in cotton wool.
But that's not something I need to worry about for now. I need to relax into this modest freedom a little.
"He still doesn't know."
She rolls her eyes. "Telllll him."
"Soon. Anyway, you can have some soup when it's done or order in."
"Are you kidding? I'm totally having the soup." Then she gets a kombucha from the fridge, unscrews the lid, and takes a sip as she settles on the other side of the island. "How are you? I wanted to check up on you."
"We live in the same place right now. And I should be checking on you."
"I'm good. You know. School, even when it's one-on-one, is boring A.F."
I laugh a little and start to chop the dill. "No. I mean you. After all, you were the one kidnapped on my watch."
She snorts and steals some carrot. "I'm good."
I raise a brow. "Are you?"
She shrugs. "Mostly. Don't tell Enzo, but I have the odd nightmare. It's improving, though. Besides, I'm probably lucky Enzo got there when he did."
"You are incredible. Taking it all in your stride. It's okayto have a shoulder to cry on if you need it." I hesitate, then I ask, "Have you spoken to Luke?"
"I didn't think you approved?"
"You told me he was twenty, even mentioned twenty-two once."
"I exaggerated. And nothing's happened." Her cheeks turn pink. "We're friends. I'm too young, blah blah."
But her lip trembles, and I can feel all the tumbling teen emotions from here.
"He works for your dad."
"And Dad caught him in my room. He thinks we were having sex. Or were about to. He wanted to feed Luke his dick. His words, not mine. I...I did try to call. I don't usually call. I had to finagle his number from him. And he's loyal to Dad, but I know he likes me."
I nod. "Anyone would."
"Liked. Dad threatened to kill him, and now he's gone."
