Her eyes squint. “He’s so hot and cold. One minute, he’s all charm and the next, it’s like he’s hiding something and… he’s always looking at you, Maddie. I’m sure you’ve noticed it. I thought he might just have a crush on you. You’re just so sweet and gorgeous… not to mention smart. But now I’m convinced that’s not it. I’m not sure what it is about him, but he’s giving me bad vibes.”
Wes’s spat with Garrett is odd, but my instincts tell me I can trust Wes.
“I’m sure I remind him of Nathan. We look alike. Since they were friends, it may be déjà vu when he looks at me. Heck, I feel that way when I look in the mirror.”
Hannah tilts her head, her eyes squinting.
“Also, Wes is exhausted. There is something or someone weighing down on him. I know that kind of fatigue when I see it.”
Uncertainty flicks across her eyes. “Maybe.”
I move to another topic. “Hannah, did Nathan ever tell you anything about his personal life? Like whether he was seeing anyone or had a steady girlfriend?”
“Nathan?” She sets her fork down. “No.” She pinches her chin. “I didn’t see him every day, so I guess he could have been seeing someone. He was private. Women noticed him, of course, he was—successful, handsome, mysterious—but I never saw him on a date.”
I glance down at my hands, Nathan’s poem flashing in my mind. “Wes mentioned Nathan told him about a girl in his life who was important to him, and I found a love poem Nathan wrote. Keeping a secret like that doesn’t match the brother I knew. I feel like he would have told me if he had someone.”
“That’s interesting. If there was a woman in his life, maybe he was keeping it quiet to protect her.” She pauses. “Do you think this relationship could be connected to what happened to him?”
“I’m not sure, but I think there is more to his disappearance than a diving accident. There had to be a reason Nathan was diving alone and couldn’t trust the people he was working with.”
I swallow the tears in my throat. “Why didn’t they find his body, Hannah? I’m convinced someone harmed him or worse. If that’s true, I can’t move on until I find the answers.”
“I understand. Nathan always carried so much responsibility on his shoulders. I see the same resolve in you. Whatever I can do to help you, I’m here. You tell me. I’ll spy, maim, kill. I’m on it.”
I laugh. “Okay, another topic… I noticed Jamie talking to you last night. The two of you seemed pretty cozy.”
Color creeps over her cheeks. “Jamie’s sweet. He told me he likes having me around.”
Amusement tugs at my mouth. “He has a crush on you.”
Hannah lets out a breath and shakes her head. “Jamie? No, we’re just friends.”
“Are you sure about that?” I tease.
She ducks her head, hiding a smile.
The rest of lunch passes with light conversation, and all the earlier tension is gone. Hannah and I make plans to go through my storage boxes on a quest for my old journals. We’ll make it fun with a movie, wine, and food. After we pay the bill and gather our things, my mind is already turning to my next move.
“I think I’ll share a little more information with the dive team tomorrow.”
“Really? I thought you didn’t trust anyone.”
“I don’t. But Garrett said I could be part of the team. If I want to stay involved, I need to contribute something… I’m just not sure how much to share.”
Hannah rests a hand on my arm, her gaze steady. “You’ll figure it out.”
We grab our purses and rise from the table.
“Come on.” She puts an arm around me and leans into my side, laying her head on my shoulder. “Let’s get some ice cream.”
Chapter 7
Scott
I lean back in my chair with my coffee, watching the team as they fall into their usual cadence. At the far end of the table, Garrett is discussing research findings with Dr. Elaine Fischer, the sharp-eyed academic that has just been aligned with the project. I like her. She’s got a cool head and seems to be here for the science not the fame.
“Scott, you look very nice today. Blue is your color.” Ms. Connor’s lips turn up as she puts a honeybun on my plate. I thank her and take a bite.
