Page 68 of All the way home

And . . . Rena doesn’t like him. Her eyes narrow as she considers him, something lofty and analytical in her gaze. Zach’s probably imagining it, since his brain likes to run haywire, but this feels like a test.

He has no idea if he passes, because she just nods and says, “Rena.”

Green Fleece holds his hand out. “Lucas.”

Lucas is tall. Like, crane-your-neck tall. Way taller up close than he’d looked when they were in line. Six-foot-five? Six? Zach accepts his handshake, forcing down a smile at the strange formality of it all. “Hey. Nice to meet you.”

“I didn’t get a nice to meet you,” Kieran mutters.

“You accosted me,” Zach reminds him, ears warming. “I was thrown off guard.”

Rena extends her hand, so, like, she must not hate him. Her hands are soft. Warmer than expected.

“What luck,” Kieran says, obviously not done with this bit. “I get a thousand-yard stare and my sister gets a handshake.”

Sighing, Zach turns to Kieran, then holds a hand out and raises an eyebrow. “There. Nice to meet you. Happy?”

Kieran’s laughter sounds wrenched out of him. Taking Zach’s hand, he shakes it, and Zach realizes abruptly that he had not been thinking about consequences.

The part of his brain devoted to prescient thought comes to a screeching halt.

Okay, so. He’s touching Kieran’s hand now. With his hand. The world narrows down to palm on palm, one squeeze of fingers, and then Kieran lets go.

Disastrous, Mara would say if she were here, with that little knowing smile.

With everything he’s got, Zach tries to keep his face, like, normal. And if he can’t get normal, vaguely nauseous will do.

Kieran gestures for Rena and Lucas to take back the two available seats, sitting down on one of the suitcases and pushing one out for Zach with his foot. Plaintively, Kieran asks Rena, “Is Mum spamming you also?”

“I told her I’d have you call her,” she tells him, sitting back down.

“Well, why on earth would you do that?”

She shoots him a look. “You should, if only so she gives it a rest.”

Behind them, the microphone clicks on.

“Attention all Air Canada passengers,” the attendant begins, sounding truly resigned. “Flight AC156 to Toronto has been delayed once again due to current weather conditions.”

Zach’s heart plummets all the way down to his feet.

“It will now depart at six thirty p.m. We thank you greatly for your patience, and if you have any questions, concerns, or if you require a meal voucher, please see an attendant at the desk.”

No.

Sinking onto his elbows, putting his face in his hands, Zach lets out a low groan.

Kieran nudges his knee. “You okay?”

It’s as though someone’s yanked a plug inside him. “There was a—a thing I was supposed to be home for, tonight. I’m going to miss it.”

For a beat, Kieran is silent. Then he sighs. “A solstice thing?”

“Kind of.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Nothing you could have done about it,” Zach tells Kieran, nearly bereft, then pulls out his phone and texts Tove.