Page 55 of All the way home

Angie ducks behind Sara’s legs, abruptly bashful.

“You’re wonderful, the both of you.” Sara yanks Kieran in for a hug as well, then pulls back to touch the top of Angie’s head, rubbing comforting circles on the baby’s back. “What do you say, Angie?”

“Thank you!” She darts back behind Sara’s legs.

With a conspiratorial smile at Zach and Kieran, Sara shakes her head. “What a turkey. She is not shy.”

“Oh, I know.” Zach offers her a smile.

“Thank you again,” she says, and then Maeve starts to cry.

“Safe travels.” Backing away, Zach drops a wink and a wave for Angie.

“You too!” Sara calls after them.

Uncharacteristically, Kieran is totally silent, half turned back even as they’re walking away, staring.

Scratching at the back of his neck, Zach asks, “You good?”

Kieran jolts as though Zach’s shocked him. Shaking out his shoulders, he blinks rapidly. “Oh, yeah. Fine.”

Which is just . . . horseshit. But Zach doesn’t say so, hesitant to push where he’s not wanted.

One thing he knows for sure, though. There’s much more to Kieran than his easy, confident exterior would suggest.

Much, much more.

Hour Five-3:10 P.M. Chapter Seventeen

Zach

Here’s the thing: Zach’s pretty sure that after all of that excitement, Kieran’s going to be done with whatever this is.

In his shoes, Zach would probably be ready to put the chaos behind him and go back to the comfort and familiarity waiting for him at the gate. Then again, Zach’s not in Kieran’s shoes.

“Four fifteen flight.” Kieran rubs his hands together as they walk back down the main aisle. “If we’re cleared to go. It’s just after three now.”

Not sure where he’s going with this, Zach shoots him a sideways glance.

“Think that gives us enough time to get a late lunch?”

Ah, fuck.

Two things are obvious. First, Kieran’s probably asking him out, like actually, for real. Second, Zach’s going to say no.

Absently rubbing his thumb over the smooth edge of the obsidian in his pocket, Zach flounders. “Uh.”

Some of his deer-in-the-headlights alarm must be obvious, because Kieran hastens to add, “On me, obviously.”

Obviously?

“Because I suggested it,” Kieran continues, though whether that’s a response to Zach’s unspoken objection is unclear.

“Airport food is highway robbery,” Zach protests weakly.

“The cost of living is highway robbery,” Kieran points out. “And yet we soldier on.”

The way he says it—cavalier, like it’s nothing—is almost insulting. Zach would give anything to be that casual about money.