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“Close.” Miles settles Margaux in her seat and disappears into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he emerges with a large casserole dish, which he sets in the center of the table. “Careful, it’s very hot.”

He brings out two more dishes, then sits in the chair closest to the kitchen, leaving my sister at the head of the table.

“Start by taking a few spoons of the couscous,” Miles tells us, taking off the lid. “Then choose the meat you want and add the veggies and sauce from this one here.”

Riley lays her hand on top of his. “He spent all day in the kitchen trying out this new recipe.”

“Hopefully, it’ll have been worth it,” he says, trapping her fingers with his and bringing them to his mouth.

Everybody gets started on their plates. The smells of olive oil, saffron, paprika, and other spices transport me to a warmer place.

“Mmm. God, Miles, this is fantastic,” I moan under the firework of flavor happening in my mouth. “Definitely not Riley-made.”

The men snort, and Avery hides her smile as she dabs her napkin on her lips.

“Okay, we get it. I suck at cooking,” Riley quips, swirling the wine in her glass. “Can we move on to teasing someone else now? Aren’t you guys curious to know where my sister is going tomorrow?”

I groan. Had that one coming.

“Not that it would matter,” Riley adds, before throwing me a pointed glare. “Because apparently, she will not tell anyone. Not even her own sister.”

“Can’t,” I rectify. “I can’t tell you. I told you, I signed an NDA.”

“Must be pretty important then,” Josh chimes in. “Every time we get people to sign an NDA, that means we’re cooking something big.”

I shrug. “Can’t say, really.”

Riley puffs. “See what I’m dealing with?”

“If I could tell you, Ry, I would, I swear. But this is too important for me to risk it. All you need to know is that I’ll stay safe and careful, and I’ll be back in no more than two weeks, okay?”

It’s my sister’s turn to groan, pulling a chuckle out of me. If only she could see how ridiculous it is for her to always worry about me. I’m twenty-six, have been traveling the world for longer than I can remember, and have always come home. Granted, she often knows where I am, but doesn’t she know by now that she can trust me to take care of myself? I’m not a little kid who needs to be protected anymore, but to Riley, I’ll forever be the girl who needed someone to look after her, just in case she broke another bone while climbing higher than she was supposed to. Or the young woman who couldn’t handle the grief of their mom’s passing and has spent every waking hour since literally running from it.

I decide to spare her a few sleepless nights and give her one small detail. “I won’t leave the country if that helps. Nothing dangerous, I promise.”

“Thank you,” Riley whispers, her chest deflating from the sigh she exhales.

I won’t mention the potential presence of bears, wolves, or orcas. Or that I’ll be basically lost in the woods with no cell reception for two weeks. She doesn’t need to know that.

The night grows longer and warmer as our stomachs fill and our minds unwind. I find myself enjoying this unexpected evening, spent with two strangers who, by the time the night comes to an end, have become friends.

“Thank you for tonight,” I tell Riley as I put on my coat. “It was surprisingly fun.”

“I’m glad I got to see you before you leave.”

I hug Miles goodbye, thank him for the delicious meal and homemade macarons tucked into my bag, and wave to Avery and Josh. Riley closes the door behind her, hugging herself against the chilly air.

“Please call and text me when you get there.”

I sigh. “I will. I’ll be okay, Ry. I can’t wait to tell you all about it when I get back. You’re gonna be so proud.”

Her face softens. “I already am, you dumb-dumb. Have you met you? In what universe wouldn’t I be proud of the woman you are?”

I smile and pull her into my arms. “I’m proud of you too.”

Riley hugs me back tightly. “Don’t forget to send me a postcard, though, okay?”

“Never.”