Page 12 of All the way home

For once, the technicalities aren’t what she’s focused on. “Yeah, but that’s not—”

“It’s not going back,” Kieran asserts. “I’m not nervous.”

Everything about his posture indicates otherwise. Between the low set of his eyebrows and the way he’s tapping his fingers against his kneecap as it bounces, Kieran’s energy is practically flammable.

“I’m not nervous.”

“I didn’t say you were.”

“You didn’t have to.” Kieran scowls. “Your judgy eyes are judging me.”

“I do not have judgy eyes.”

“You do,” Lucas chimes in.

Ignoring him, Rena leans closer to Kieran. “I’m just watching out for you.”

When Kieran meets her gaze, she sees it. She sees what he’s thinking, the unspoken And look where that landed us.

Flinching, Rena swallows. “That’s not fair.”

Lucas sighs, already lost.

Never faltering, Kieran’s dark eyes are flinty and deadly serious.

“Hey.” Rena tries to keep her voice steady. “I just want to know if there’s anything I can do.”

“Don’t,” he mutters. His gaze flickers to Lucas before landing on her again.

“Kieran . . . ” Biting her lip, Rena chooses her words carefully. “We have to talk about it sometime. You can’t just pretend it never happened—that’s not fair.”

“Not fair?”

“Not”—she scrambles for a better word—“responsible.”

“Can you just—” Kieran breaks off, and now genuine distress leaks through every word.

Rubbing her thumb over the ribbed edge of her sweater, she backs off. “Sorry.”

If they ignore the situation, it will only get worse, and they both know it, but what else is she supposed to do if he won’t talk to her?

Leaning forward, Kieran puts his head in his hands.

“I’m sorry,” Rena repeats, fractionally louder.

“Are you?”

“I—”

Kieran shakes his head. “There’s nothing you can do, okay? It’s done. It’s fine. I’m good, and I will be fine.”

None of it is convincing, but she knows better than to push.

Even if she wanted to, he doesn’t give her the opportunity. Kieran retrieves his headphones from his backpack and slips them in, folding his arms and reclining in the seat.

His knee does not stop bouncing.

“What were you guys talking about earlier?” Lucas asks, softly, in case Kieran’s music isn’t loud enough.