I shook my head, refusing to take it. “I’m fine. You should eat it.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You sure about that? You picked at your meal.”
“Have to be able to fit into the dress.” She gestured to herself, and I couldn’t not look.
“That dress looks like it was made for you,” I said with all sincerity. “But I’d be happy to help you remove it if that would make you more comfortable.”
“Jasper,” she chided, but she was fighting a smile. Maybe I shouldn’t have said it, but at least it had lightened the mood. And I was grateful to be on more familiar footing. We’d been tiptoeing around each other lately, and I missed her sharp tongue and her quick wit.
I held up the protein bar. “Want to split it?”
“Maybe we should save it. Who knows how long we’ll be stuck here.”
Instead of making a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep, I opened the bar and handed half of it to her, determined to show her that I was confident we would get out. Surely someone would come.
She hesitated a moment then took it. “Thank you.” After she finished it, she dusted off her hands. “I’m sorry forsnapping at you. I promised Kai I’d call, and I’m worried what will happen if I don’t.”
I couldn’t change our situation, but I could focus on the things I could control, just like Sumner and I had talked about. I hated that Halle was worried. I hated that I’d put her in this position. So I did the only thing I could—I tried to reassure her.
“Kai is going to be okay. His dad is with him. And Rosie.”
“True.” Halle smiled, perhaps thinking about how excited both Rosie and Kai had been when I’d dropped her off for their weekend together. “But…Kai relies on me.”
“Of course he does. You’re his mom.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You don’t understand. Kai loves his dad, but he’s not used to my being away. Plus, he’s still adjusting to living in a new city. He’s always been attached to me, but after the divorce, well…” She blew out a breath. “Let’s just say that he will freak out if he doesn’t hear from me.”
“Freak out how?” I asked.
She nibbled on her nail. I took her hand in mine, desperate to comfort her.
“The last time I had to travel with Sloan on business, Kai lost four pounds. He was sick to his stomach for days because he was stressed by my absence.”
I frowned, not liking the sound of that. “I’m sorry it’s been so difficult on him. On both of you.” I was tempted to drape my arm around her and hold her, to try to comfort her, but then I thought better of it. It was enough that we were holding hands.
“Thanks.” She dropped her head to her chest. “He’s always had stomach issues, but the doctors have yet to find a cause, apart from anxiety.”
She sounded so…defeated. I hated it—for her, for Kai. I hated that he was suffering. He’d never even let on. He always seemed like such a happy, carefree kid.
“Does being away from Craig trigger that reaction?” I asked, her ex’s name bitter on my tongue. Maybe it was because he was in her suite that I suddenly felt so threatened.
I still couldn’t believe he was even in LA. After everything Halle had told me of her ex, I would’ve never expected him to fly across the world and spend the weekend with his son. I was happy for Kai, truly. But I was also mistrustful. Cautious on Kai and Halle’s behalf.
“Just me.”
“But you’re not convinced his stomach troubles are all down to anxiety,” I said.
She shook her head. “No, but everyone else—the doctors, Craig—thinks I’m being ridiculous.”
I gnashed my teeth, hating everyone who had ever made her doubt herself. “You’re Kai’s mom. You know him better than anyone. And if your gut tells you it’s something else, then trust it.”
When she met my gaze, she looked so…fragile. “You mean that?”
“Yes.” I gave her hand a squeeze before releasing her. “One hundred percent.”
“Thanks.”
