Page 26 of Hunger & Harmony

“Man, I thought we’d never play a live show again,” Ezren says, shaking his head as he glances down at me. “Really!”

I smile weakly in response before I glance Niko’s way.

While everyone is already getting back to business, his eyes remain unfocused, and I don’t miss how tight his jaw is. His knuckles blanch paler, too, and I fight the urge to say something. It’s not my business. It’s not my right. I can’t stop my heart from sinking lower when he quietly turns and disappears back up the walkway, like he’s hoping no one notices.

So, I pretend I don’t. What right does a human assistant have? Especially when he’s made it clear how he feels about me. Didn’t I already tell myself to stop caring? All I’d do is make it worse.

I don’t care. I won’t make it worse.

Like a mantra, I loop that in my mind as the drive continues.

Between the occasional pouch request or chat with Lorelai or Ezren, I read up in the notes section for the cities we’ll be going to. There’s not a lot of information I don’t already know. Who put these useless notes together?

We’re more than halfway through the journey when the bus exits the highway for a pit stop.

There’s been plenty of room to spread out, but when the night air hits my flushed face, I’m renewed. After midnight in Sunveil is almost busier than during the day. Here, only the gravel under my sneakers and echoing rumbles of the distant highway break up the silence. There are just a few silhouettes in the cozy glow of the gas station up ahead, too.

“Brr.”

I shiver as I huddle into my denim jacket. Over six hours north is no joke. October finally feels like itself when my breath crystallizes in faint puffs.

“Five minutes' break, everyone,” Lorelai announces, her loud voice ricocheting off exposed branches and curling leaves. “Seven minutes until we leave again!”

Lorelai snatches Ezren’s elbow, dragging him up the dim path to the gas station. Ryel lights a cigarette and leans against the bus. Selene and Niko are still inside.

I’m about to follow the two bickering all the way to the building when my back pocket starts vibrating.

With a squee, I pull out my personal phone. Perfect timing to quickly bitch to Viola!

My disappointment falls off a cliff when I see my mom’s caller ID.

As if I’d answer. I let it ring, hoping she’ll figure I’m asleep and give up. So what if we haven’t talked for over a week? Accounting firm internships are serious work, right?

The call finally drops, and I let out a sigh.

Only for my stomach to invent a new type of somersault when a text flashes above the ‘missed call’ notification.

Life Giver

Where are you? This is serious.

What is she talking about? I run through a million different answers, the lies tangling when another message comes through.

Life Giver

Please. We saw the footage.

I’m too busy losing my shit to notice when a figure looms closer to me. A yelp catches in my throat when I hear his voice.

“You should reply. Family has a way of finding out the truth.”

Scrambling backwards, I face the intruder under a single street lamp. What’s his name again? Cam? He peers down at me through the shadow of his hoodie and curly brown bangs. Does this guy own other clothes?

I grip my thundering heart with one hand, the other clutching my phone. I’m too sick to even look when another vibration alerts me.

There’s something about the way he said that. Calm and flat, as if he already knew what was on my screen.

“Huh?” is all I can muster.