Tonya went to leave, but stopped herself at the door. “Oh, and Kat—I left a couple things for you in the closet. I wasn’t sure what you would have with you at the Academy.”
Kat opened her mouth to say something as Tonya left, but the words got stuck in her throat. Like with the gratitude, the emotion blocking her vocal cords caught her off guard. No one had ever cared to give her anything like this before.
She swallowed thickly as she turned to stare out at the resort again. Sounds of laughter and music floated up from the pool, and what looked to be a full-sized jogging track.
What would it have been like to grow up in the Tonya Waters’ household. A home of casual thoughtfulness and easy smiles…
“Thank you for all of this. It means a lot to her to have us here,” Lee said, tracing his thumb softly over the back of her hand. “She doesn’t get many opportunities to treat her son.”
When she peered up at Lee’s brilliant green eyes—Tonya’s eyes—she felt that warmth again, the moisture already swimming behind her eye ducts, because that kindness didn’t just belong to Tonya. All of this, everything Lee’s mom represented… That was all a part of who Lee was, too.
Batting her eyes with her palms, she glanced back into the room behind them, to the shuttered closet opposite the throw pillow bed. “Do I even want to know what she got for me?”
Lee huffed a laugh. “Probably not.”
When she looked back, he held her gaze again, carrying the remnants of their laughter, but concern also crinkled his forehead.You gonna be okay there, Hanneman?
Eyes still glistening, Kat nodded, the lyrics from one of the alternative rock songs Lee had played for her on the way over streaming on repeat in her head…
My friend, like a waterfall. We go on and on and onnnnnn.
She had no clue what the song meant, and it skewed a little more punk than they usually went for. But the vibe fit, and Lee really liked it.
She could get onboard with all of this.
Sliding the rose-colored lenses over her eyes, she motioned with her head over the balcony’s edge. “You know, I noticed the track down there looked a little neglected. Perhaps we could show it some love.”
A slow grin bloomed across his lips. “Let’s go, Hanneman.”
Late that afternoon, Kat and Lee slipped into the little poolside grille as the solar satellite arced over the edge of the resort-planet, painting the fabricated skies a fiery scarlet.
It took them a minute to spot Lee’s mom over the twenty-somethings from the pool who had relocated to the wet bar, and the live timba band bobbling in the corner. Tonya had a table deep inside the crowded grille, her skin glowing from a day spent in the sun—or maybe that was from the drink in her hand. She looked up from her gossip magazine with a bright-eyed smile as they slipped into the tall chairs alongside her.
“You two look like you had some fun today,” Tonya said.
Kat’s face heated as she grinned, airy headed, the endorphins in full fling tonight. They had taken their time scuffing up the track and abusing the gym’s leisure machines and stealing kisses in between reps…
“This is really nice, Mom,” Lee said, eyes dancing as Kat ducked behind her menu.
She hadn’t yet deigned to peek into the closet and see what Tonya had brought her, but she was grateful she’d forgone Lee’s hoodie tonight. She fanned herself with the neck of her faded band shirt as she let her eyes glaze over the food items. Raider Lee, with his all-terrain suit and command-your-universe boots was one thing. But vacation Lee, with his dark blue T-shirt and muscled forearms on display…
“I think I need water,” Kat said.
Tonya gave them the rundown on the resort pool and the breakup of celebrity pop-duo starlets, Stella and Giernva, green eyes sparkling, while Kat and Lee ate through stacks of tapas and downed tall glasses of water. Fed and drowsy, Kat sat back in her chair, soaking in the warmth and coziness of the evening as Lee slid his hand over her knee.
“But enough about them. I want to know all about your friends! You have been at that Academy together for so many years. Tell me, what’s the latest, who’s dating whom, and who are the hottest Gammas right now?”
Lee nearly choked on his water at this last one. But honestly, it was refreshing to peek at their life through Tonya’s lens for a change and invite her into their little world.
“Obviously, Lee and I are holding down the Academy,” Kat began smugly. “Then there’s Whistler and Flyn and Ness. And Zane.”
“Whistler’s the long-haired one, isn’t he? I always liked the sound of him.”
“He’s sort of seeing someone right now, too. This gorgeous X, Demi. It’s only been a few weeks now, but I think he really likes him.”
“I like that. The world could use more unrequited love,” Tonya agreed, nodding thoughtfully to herself as if reaffirming the picture she’d put together of her son’s life. “Now Zane—wehad some trouble with him in the past, didn’t we?” Tonya asked, squinting over the sugared rim of her glass.
Lee subtly shook his head, Kat catching hisit’s-not-what-you-thinkexpression before Tonya could intercept their silent conversation.
