Gavin:Status?
Silas:Any issues in town?
Rafe:Quiet is good. Quiet stays good.
I type back.
Me:All good. Errands and diner. No tails. Heading back soon.
Almost immediately, a reply pops up.
Boyd:Copy.
Thorne:Keep eyes up.
Gavin:Bring her home safe.
I slide the phone back into my pocket and look up to find Fiona watching me.
“Work stuff?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
She nods. “Thank you. For… all of this.”
I meet her gaze. “You don’t have to thank me.”
“But I want to.” Something in her expression makes me want to say more. Want to tell her things I don’t usually tell anyone.
About how I didn’t feel useful after the war. How Haven 7 gave me a purpose again. How protecting people feels like the only thing that makes sense sometimes.
Instead, I say, “You don’t have to be alone anymore.”
Her throat bobs, and she looks away. “I’m still getting used to that idea.”
We pay and head back to the truck. I load the bags, then open her door for her. She gives me a look.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just… you’re very gentlemanly for a guy who looks like he could fight a bear.”
“I’d lose to the bear.”
“Lies.”
The drive back is quieter. Comfortable. The sun is starting to dip, painting the mountains gold. When we pull up to my cabin, she looks… relieved.
“Go shower,” I tell her. “I’ll start dinner.”
She hesitates. “You sure?”
“Go,” I say. “You’ll feel better.”
She smiles softly. “Okay. And… Chase?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad it’s you.”