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“Ares,” she says, placing her mug down. “Can I ask you something?”

I nod and walk to take a seat across from her. There is no way I plan to fight Vero and Clay, knowing they will take the chairs on either side of her.

“Can you drive me into town today? I need to go see Rogue.”

“I can take you whenever you need me to.”

Vero jumps down off the counter, and Kayla shakes her head before he speaks. “You can’t come, Vero, you know Rogue is not your biggest fan.”

That makes Vero pout, and Kayla laughs. “But we can hang out when I get back. You should be off shift by then.”

“Can we go after breakfast?” I ask. “It’s easier to get someone to cover my shift in the morning.”

Kayla nods, and we all sit around and eat breakfast. I watch her eat and wonder more about these feelings and how alien they are, but nevertheless, they persist. I don’t have an issue with them per se; it’s more that maybe I have always been capable and my entire life has been a lie. I don’t know how I feel about that fact. Was I taught to believe I was like this and acted accordingly when I could have had meaningful connections all this time?

The bar is closed to the public when we arrive, but Kayla knows Rogue will be here already. She is nervous when we pull in and rubs her sweaty hands on her jeans.

“You don’t have to quit if you don’t want to,” I assure her.

“I want to . . . but it’s just this job was my saving grace for so long, so it feels like it’s the end of an era. Yet I can’t work here when all I want is to be near you guys, and if you tell Clay I said that I will kick you.”

I laugh. “I will keep my lips sealed. Not sure I’m into the physical violence like he is.”

She throws her leg off my bike and removes her helmet, handing it to me. “This is it,” she whispers to herself.

Once I’m off, I slip my hand into hers. She gives it a light squeeze, and we both walk toward the bar together. I know how hard this must be for her. After everything with Aaron, this job was her independence, and I know a small part of her feels like she is giving that up. While I wonder if she might regret it and can’t tell her she won’t, Kayla will still earn a wage at the bar on the island and have her independence, so I hope that helps calm her nerves a little.

When we step inside, she looks around the room and her eyes water a little. Kayla doesn’t like to show any sign of weakness and will hate that she is feeling emotional right now.

Rogue comes out from the back, and her face falls when she sees Kayla.

“I knew it,” she says, pointing at Kayla. “You’re not coming back, are you?”

Kayla shakes her head. “I’m not. I can’t.”

Rogue’s eyes tear up. “I won’t lie, I’ll miss you. Just tell me, are you okay?”

Kayla called after everything went down and explained what happened. I don’t know what was said, but enough that she was told not to come back in until she was good.

“I will be, but I didn’t expect things to hit me as hard as they have.”

Rogue steps forward and pulls Kayla into her arms. “Everyone will miss you, and I will be furious I have lost you for a few days, but I’ll get over it. I also know where you are, so I plan to come and visit on my days off.”

They both laugh, and I have no idea why—it must be some weird girl thing.

Rogue glances over at me. “You’d better look after her. I question if you’re even able to after what happened, but since you were not told about her douchebag ex, I will give you a free pass this time.”

“We will protect her with our lives—that I can promise you.”

Rogue makes a sound that suggests she is reserving judgment and turns back to Kayla. “There’s something I need to tell you, and I want you to stay calm.”

“Two men came in yesterday, cops in plain clothes, and they were asking about you. If you had been in this week, when I last saw you, and whether you had mentioned anything about Aaron.” She watches Kayla’s face as she talks. “I told them you called in sick and that I hadn’t seen you since last week. I didn’t mention the island or anything else.”

“Thank you,” Kayla says, and I can hear the slight wobble in her voice.

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on? I know there’s more than what you said over the phone.”

“No, the less you know, the better.”