AllFreeNovel
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Once we arrived in Bunny’s fancy neighborhood outside of Nashville, we dropped everyone off and moved the van around the corner to the parking lot by the country club tennis courts.
I climbed into the back and found Kev already at home in front of the monitors. “I’m surprised Champ is willing to involve his mother in an op,” Kev said without looking at me.
“It’s definitely not like him,” I agreed. “They’re not particularly close, but I think Quinn’s been trying to change that. And Bunny cares about Champ a lot… even if she doesn’t know what to do with him half the time.”
To my surprise, Kev laughed. “Oh, God. Relatable.”
I frowned as I dropped into the chair beside him. “In what way?”
Kev glanced in my direction for the first time since we’d left his house. “In all the ways? Remember, I was raised by a socialite too. My grandfather lives in a neighborhood just like this one.”
“No kidding. But your grandfather adores you—dotes on you, I think Carter said—and is incredibly proud of your achievements.”
“Oh, yeah. All of that,” Kev agreed, sitting back in his seat. “He loves me a ton, even if he secretly worries that I’m a vampire because I spend all my time in my lair, avoiding sunlight and humans.” He grinned. “At least he tries to understand, though, which is more than I can say for my parents. They decided I was too weird for them back when I was in middle school, so they left me in Tennessee and went off to work for a medical mission to Africa. But they pray for me,” he added solemnly.
I stared at him blankly as all the pieces of the privileged childhood I’d imagined for Kev Rogers rearranged themselves in my mind. “I… I had no idea.”
“Well, no, how would you? I’m just saying, I understand what it’s like to be the black sheep of a family.”
“The black sheep,” I repeated, still stunned. “Because you like computers and don’t like to socialize?”
“Not just that. I mean… my whole family are cardiologists, you know? Brilliant ones. Handsome, golden-haired, charming, giving ones. People who save other people’s lives daily. And I’m not just talking about Carter and my grandfather,” he went on. “I mean, my own dad, and Carter’s dad, Grandfather’s father… heck, there was probably some Neanderthal Rogers painting hearts on the wall of a cave somewhere.” He paused. “And then there’s… me.”
“Yeah, you. Brilliant, charming, kind, giving… The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as far as I can see,” I said stoutly.
Kev’s cheeks went pink, but the look he gave me was nearly pitying. “Easy to say when you weren’t the one who had to tell your grandfather that you couldn’t bear to dissect a frog in ninth grade biology and watch his premed dreams for you evaporate on the spot. And I don’t remember you finding me all that charming either until, like…” He tapped his lip thoughtfully. “Yesterday?”
“It was longer than that,” I said gruffly. But he was right. I’d been lying to myself, and to him, for a long while. And it was silly for me to think that me telling him the truth just once or twice would make up for that.
In fact, I had a lot to make up for where Kev was concerned.
I leaned toward him. “Well, fuck ’em.”
“The frogs?” he said lightly, turning back toward the monitor. “Because I don’t think—”
I reached out and spun his chair toward me, then gripped his chin, forcing him to look at me. “Fuck anyone who’d want a bland, predictable carbon copy when they could have someone as smart, and fun, and enthusiastic, and just plain good as you in their lives. You didn’t have to be out here today, Kev. You’re not trained for this stuff, you’re not emotionally prepared for it, but you got out of a warm bed and you showed up because you care about people. You care about doing the right thing. And I think that makes you a fucking incredible person. An incredible teammate.”
Kev’s eyes got wider and shinier with every word that tumbled out of my mouth. “You think that? Really? I… I got worried that I was going to let you down.” He motioned toward the monitors and surveillance cameras. “Let the team down.”
“You won’t,” I said. I hoped he could read the sincerity in my eyes.
“I’m just afraid you’ll change your mind back again,” he blurted. “That you’re gonna remember how awkward and overwhelmed I get, and you won’t want me.” His eyes widened, and his face went deep red. “Want me on the team, I mean.”
“I want you,” I told him, suffusing the words with meaning. “That’s not going to change.” I cleared my throat. “Even though I still think you need training before you do fieldwork.”
