Page 44 of All the way home

“This is a dead end,” Rena points out. “So we should stop snooping.”

“It’s not, though.” Tapping her profile photo, Lucas says, “See, I’m a brilliant detective.”

It’s Zach.

It’s Zach from today, even, in the same University of Calgary sweater. The image is a screenshot of a FaceTime call, his mouth half-open in a silent objection as the tiny Mara in the corner cracks up with laughter. Here, he seems less like he’s suffering from consumption, and more like a real person.

The caption to the story reads: can’t believe you’re missing the solstice you bitch, accompanied by a half dozen crying emojis.

“Admit it.” Lucas nudges her shoulder. “I’m a genius.”

“This was chance.”

“What do we think? Girlfriend?”

Rena shakes her head. “Friend, I think. I wouldn’t call you a bitch on Instagram.”

Snorting a laugh, Lucas nods. “You wouldn’t call me anything on Instagram.”

Her mouth drops open.

“I’m teasing.” He nudges her arm. “You know I love being your mistress.”

“Hey.”

“You are right, though. She’s definitely not his girlfriend.” Lucas holds out his phone to show Rena another photo. This one is on Mara’s permanent feed—tagged June 23—and it’s of her and Zach on a crowded and colorful sidewalk, smashed together ankle-to-hip. It’s obviously a candid, because Zach is mid-laugh, and Mara’s hands are halfway up to her face.

When Rena just quirks an eyebrow, Lucas points to the screen. “Her shirt. It’s the same colors as the lesbian flag.”

Brushing past his correct observation with a nod, Rena homes in on the buildings behind them. “This was in Toronto.”

“It’s from this year’s Pride. Isn’t that crazy? ’Cause we were hanging out around there too. We might have even seen them and just not known it.”

A shiver runs up her spine. Same parade. Same airport. “Life is full of coincidences.”

“Hot take,” Lucas observes dryly, checking the photo for tags. Sure enough, Zach’s account is linked. It’s the private one with the profile picture of the moon.

“Don’t you dare follow him. He’s going to think we’re creeps.”

“Well, we kind of are,” Lucas points out, and then laughs at her expression, dropping his phone into his lap. “Okay, okay! I’m done. No more detective work.”

The moment his phone turns off, hers starts to vibrate on her thigh.

A call.

Curious, Rena turns it over. The caller ID reads: Mum.

With an apologetic grimace, Rena picks up. “Hello?”

As she frequently does, instead of a real greeting, Mum gets right to the point.

“Rena? Hi, baby. We need to talk about Kieran.”

Chapter Fourteen

Zach

“I wondered when we’d get to the Purge,” Kieran muses as they step out of the gift shop and back into the terminal.