Page 47 of Save Me

A shudder runs through me. I’ve never been one for pet names in my past relationships. But this isn’t just a generic pet name like ‘baby’ or ‘sweetie.’ It has meaning and reasoning behind it.

I remember him explaining why he calls me that and I could swear that there was a flash of something I recognized.

Like I knew him from somewhere in my past.

That night after our date, while sitting in my reading nook, unable to work any longer, I wracked my brain trying to pull out a memory of ever meeting Dae Kim before.

I failed.

He and I never met, even when I first joined the Black Opal. I then thought about my previous trip to South Korea. It’s been over a decade since I was there with my family, but no memories of ever meeting him arise.

I would remember.

“Are you home from dinner with your family?” Dae asks, breaking into my thoughts.

“We’re just getting ready to eat,” I tell him. “I was a little late.”

“Why?”

“Work. What else?” I joke.

“Are you working too hard? You need to take care of yourself. Don’t tell me this is the first thing you’re eating today.” There’s a concern mixed with mild scolding.

“No,” I say defensively. “I had a bran muffin for breakfast,” I mumble.

“A muffin,” he repeats as if to make sure I hear how ridiculous it sounds.

“Did you miss the part where I said it was a bran muffin? Those are the healthiest types of muffins.”

He snorts. “A muffin is nothing more than a cupcake by a different name.”

I laugh.

“You need to go eat then.” He sounds hesitant.

I, too, hesitate to disconnect the call.

“Kennedy,” my mother calls from the dining room.

“Go enjoy dinner with your family. And eat,” he insists.

“I don’t like being told what to do,” I say darkly.

“When it comes to taking care of you, get used to it, little warrior. I’ll call you tomorrow,” he says before hanging up.

Did he say get used to it? What is that supposed to mean? More importantly, why did excitement rush down my spine when he said it?

“Wow, I know what that smile means,” Riley says, startling me.

I blink and blink again, wiping away the smile I didn’t know was on my face. “What?”

“Who has you smiling like that?”

With a shake of my head, I answer, “No one. Nothing.” I clear my throat.

“So you were talking to yourself just now?”

“Yes. No. Work. I just got a tip for the investigation I’m working on.”

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