“Hilarious? Disgustingly handsome? Your dreams come true?” Aiden teases.
I roll my eyes at Dax and answer Aiden, “So comfortable with each other.”
“A long time relying on each other will do that,” Aiden says.
“You’re more like a family than we ever were.”
“From the sounds of Eric Feelan, that isn’t hard to accomplish,” Dax mutters. Aiden shoots him a warning glare. “I know, I know,” he fires back at Aiden. He turns to me. “Ask Tom if we sit and eat like a family and he will laugh in your face. I fucked that up for him. It was Aiden who gave me this.”
“It takes time. You’ll feel the same way soon. One day you’ll just feel like it all fits. Like you’re home.”
I can see what Aiden is saying. The two of them are living proof of that, moving around each other as they argue playfully and fetch side dishes from the fridge. Even Dax seems less uptight than usual. They banter back and forth between mouthfuls of food. Dax makes sure to put a little of each side dish in my bowl for me to try, topping me up when I run out. Aiden watches with a coy smile, holding his bowl out to Dax, who only seems to grow more irritated each time he does it.
They’re cute, and funny, and good to each other. I enjoy just being here with them. If only my mind would stop wandering tothe girl upstairs, sitting alone in her room.
Dax notices first. “Are you okay?”
“Something wrong with the food, Tiger?”
“What? Oh. No. Food is delicious.”
“Are you done?” Aiden reaches for my plate.
I shake my head and shift my food closer. “No, sorry, just thinking.”
“Spill,” Dax insists.
“Do you think she’s okay? Has she eaten?” I look up toward the ceiling where I think Sylvie’s room would be.
“She’d deserve a night with no supper,” Dax grouses like an angry father. “But she’s not a child, and we’re not that cruel. Mrs Grainger fixed her supper before she left.”
Aiden leans back and groans. “We should discuss what happened today.”
My sigh is loud, but Dax’s lasts longer. After a second to collect my thoughts, I relay the conversation with Sylvie and my suspicions. Both Dax and Aiden remain silent and thoughtful even after I finish.
Dax rolls his lips in thought. “You have a point. Why would she ask Tom where you were if she had no intention of meeting you? The suitcase shows she was planning on staying away for a few days.”
“The man she was with could have pumped her for information?” Aiden suggests, his turn of phrase leaving Dax looking queasy.
“When did she leave here for the hospital?” I ask.
“Five days before we picked her up.”
“So, she might have been in the hotel for three or four nights before calling Tom?”
“Yeah.”
“Who even told her about the interview? Aiden told me only the night before and I only knew where we were going when Cass pulled up at the coffee house.”
“Another good question,” Dax admits.
Aiden leans forward, crossing his arms and leaning on the counter. “Assuming the worst and that she was giving information to Franz’s men, why would she even need to when Franz already approached Trainor?”
“That’s right. Trainor sold out. He betrayed me.” We already flushed the traitor out on that front.
Aiden’s brows furrow. “We might need another chat with Trainor.”
Dax mirrors his expression. “And a long talk with Sylvie.”
