Page 32 of All the way home

The back of his hair still sticks up. He runs a hand through it, a habit so engrained Rena could replicate it from memory, then ducks his head and rubs his face.

When he lets his hands drop, voice devoid of all color, he asks, “Are we going to talk about it?”

Chapter Ten

Zach

Kieran is relentless.

“So.” As they walk, he keeps glancing over at Zach. “Are you from somewhere in Ontario, or is Toronto just a stopover for you?”

“I’m from somewhere in Ontario,” Zach tells him, aware that it’s evasive but unwilling to volunteer any more information. “You?”

“Torontonian born and raised.” Kieran taps his chest with his fist, like it’s a point of pride. “Lived nowhere else until I moved for school.”

“Not Toronto, but same.” What Zach doesn’t say is that he’s really never been anywhere else at all, even to visit. That going to university in another province had been a point of genuine terror.

They’ve passed what seems to be the lone, sad row of restaurants and reached the end of the A-wing. On this side of the airport, quiet reigns. The chaos closer to security hasn’t yet bled through, though Zach has no doubt that it will if flights keep getting delayed and people keep arriving.

“Guess there’s not really a lot to explore,” Zach notes, gesturing at the rows of empty seats.

“No, but that’s all right.” Kieran pivots. “Even the dullest of environments is interesting depending on the company you keep.”

Then he drops Zach a wink.

Zach’s cheeks burn. If Mara were here, she’d be able to tell him if Kieran’s flirting with him or if it’s just in his head.

In his pocket, Kieran’s phone chirps. He whips it out like it’s timed to detonate, still walking back the way they’d come. The edges of his mouth yank into a smirk as he reads, thumbs flying across the screen.

It’s impossible not to wonder who it is. A partner?

“Delayed,” Kieran announces, stuffing his phone back into his pocket.

“What? The flight?” Zach hastens to keep up, falling into step next to him.

“Yep.” Utterly unbothered, Kieran nods. “Until four fifteen.”

“Four fifteen,” Zach echoes, swallowing. “That puts us getting in just after ten, right?”

“Don’t look at me. You’re the numbers guy.”

Zach does the math in his head. The flight is four hours, and the time difference will eat two, so yes. Just after 10 p.m.

With a deep breath, he nods. Okay. That’s okay, still. Probably. Worst-case scenario, he and Tove can pull over and watch from the side of the road. It won’t be the same, but the tradition had started with the two of them anyway.

Slightly reassured, Zach pulls out his phone to text her.

delayed AGAIN. to 4:15

“I cannot believe you’re my seat neighbor,” Kieran says, yanking Zach’s attention up from his phone. “Like, what are the chances?”

“I’m more surprised you’re not sitting with your sister,” Zach says, because he’s been doing the math, and it doesn’t add up. “If I’m your seat neighbor, I’d have to be between you and someone else, right?”

“Oh. Rena always books me across the aisle when we travel together.” The unspoken question must be obvious, because Kieran laughs and tosses him a wink. “Because I’m terribly annoying.”

At this, Zach can’t help a smile. If the Loren family ever flew, he can imagine Tove doing the same thing. And as if he’s summoned her by thought alone, she responds.

Noooooo