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Was he okay? No, of course not. How could he be?
She wanted so badly to chase after him. If she were really his girlfriend, she would do just that. She’d put her arms around him and hold him tight, and maybe—maybe he’d even let her.
Her stomach plummeted to the floor.
The only problem was that she wasn’t. If she gave them away, he’d be even more furious—furious at her.
But she couldn’t ignore thispull.
“Shouldn’t someone go after him?” she asked.
Han shook his head. “Just makes it worse.”
Everyone seemed to take that as definitive.
Slowly, people started eating and talking again, but Zoe couldn’t hear any of it. She was listening so carefully for any sort of sound from the hallway. When she heard the bathroom door open, her heart leaped.
Speaking to no one in particular, she said, “I have to…”
She pulled out her phone as if that would explain her needing to step away.
June gave her a knowing glance that bordered on encouragement. Accepting that unexpected morsel of support, she took off down the hall at a measured pace, but as soon as she was out of sight, she couldn’t help it. She broke into an all-out sprint.
Only to almost crash into Devin. His jaw was set, storms still brewing in his eyes, and she’d just come out here to check on him.
But she couldn’t stand this.
She grabbed him by the wrist and hauled him down the hall.
“Zo—”
He resisted, but he finally let himself be dragged into the next available room with a door. It was Lian’s old room—now her mother’s sewing room, but it would do. Her mom was working at the restaurant tonight, so she wouldn’t notice.
As soon as the door was closed behind them, she launched herself at him. She wrapped her arms around his chest, but he was stone.
“You don’t have to—” he gritted out.
“Shh.”
He shook his head, but she wasn’t having any of it.
She shushed him again. He stayed as stiff as a board for a long moment. Crap. Maybe she’d misread this entire thing. Maybe he didn’t need comfort.
Maybe he didn’t want any from her.
Well, too bad. She was giving it to him anyway.
She’d give him anything.
She clenched her eyes tight. That was probably so stupid of her. He wasn’t in this with her for real. Even if he were—what kind of future could they have? He’d never be willing to face Han’s wrath or risk Arthur’s judgment. There wasn’t any place for her in his lonely loner’s house in the woods. Who knew how long she’d be staying in Blue Cedar Falls anyway? Getting invested was a waste, but she couldn’t seem to fight it anymore.
Finally, Devin let out a sigh. He curled his arms around her, too. His posture softened as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m fine,” he told her.
“I know.” People banging dishes on counters and leaving in a huff—that was always a sign that they were fine.
“I just…”
She leaned back so she could look him in the eye. The anger had faded from his gaze, replaced by something that made him look tired and older than he was. She sucked in a breath. “Han said it was something to do with your father?”
