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“Well, okay then.” This was getting awkward. She’d never expected to hear Eric admit he was wrong. And why was he reading from his wrist comm? It was like he had prompt cards, so he didn’t forget what he should say.

“These are for you.” Eric pulled out a card and a small box from his back pocket.

Holly didn’t take them. “I don’t want anything from you. We’re over.”

“Please, my knees are killing me,” Eric said. “And I’m not allowed to stand until you accept them.”

“What do you mean you’re not allowed to stand? Why can’t you stand?”

Eric glanced at a table where a lone Mehab sat, his sharp gaze fixed on Eric and a smirk on his face. “Just take them. They’re not from me. They’re from Avel.”

Holly’s jaw dropped. “Avel made you come here to apologize?”

“And to give you these. He said you’d understand.”

Holly suppressed a smile as she took the card and the small box. Avel was still looking out for her. She should be angry that he was interfering again, but his protectiveness made her warm inside. Even after they’d argued, he was still there for her. He still wanted her to be happy.

She blinked away tears as she opened the box to find a heart-shaped chocolate inside.

Holly opened the card and read the note. Meet me in my room immediately. You have a debt that needs to be repaid.

She stared at the card before turning it over. That was it. No apology or suggestion that they could work things out. Avel was demanding she go to his room to repay the money she owed him?

Holly scratched her head. She was even more confused.

“Is everything okay?” Sally stood behind her, her angry gaze on Eric.

“Oh! Sure. At least, I think it is.”

“My calves are spasming,” Eric whined. “Please, can I get up?”

Holly was tempted to leave him there. It was no less than he deserved. “Go. I hope you’re not hanging around on Prodigy for much longer.”

“I’ll be gone in an hour. I won’t be coming back.” Eric jumped to his feet and hurried away, rubbing the backs of his calves as he did so.

The Mehab who’d been watching their conversation stood, nodded at Holly, and strolled away.

“What was all that about?” Sally asked. “I had to come see what was going on. From where I stood, it looked like Eric was proposing.”

“No, it wasn’t a proposal. It was an apology.” Holly held out the gifts. “Avel gave him these.”

Sally snorted a laugh. “You have to hand it to Avel. He has a unique way of doing things.”

“He says I have a debt to repay.”

Sally cocked her head. “And you think he’s talking about the money you owe him?”

Holly sucked in a breath. “Maybe.” She wasn’t sure this was about money. This felt like something much more important. Something life-changing.

“There’s no maybe about it. You like Avel.”

“I do. I owe him time, so we can talk and see if we can make it work.”

“Then go pay off that debt.” Sally squeezed her arm. “Take that over-sized apron off, get the hell out of here, and go get your man.”

Holly grinned as she untied her apron and handed it to Sally. She was right. She wasn’t hiding any more.

She shoved the heart-shaped chocolate in her mouth and ran out of the dining hall to find Avel.