Page 96 of Your Soul to Keep

Did she make him laugh?

How easy would it be for him to fall back in with her? Certainly, it would be far less complicated.

Worrying didn’t help, I knew this, but it didn’t stop me.

When I wasn’t missing Gabe and Dylan, I was putting out fires at Ayana’s, one time literally when one of the new cooks left a towel draped over the stove.

Our best server called in sick at the last minute, our sous-chef came down with a sudden case of stomach flu, and our freezer was on the fritz. Combined with the pressure to deliver the Ayana’s experience to each and every smiling, shiny-faced, customer who walked through the door, I was left depleted.

And I missed my girls.

Before Gabe came back into my life, I spent my free time with Bridge, Harley, Noelle, and Wren, but especially Bridge.

Other than chats about Nadine’s upcoming shower, I’d barely talked to her.

I came to two conclusions.

One: I wanted to be less hands-on at Ayana’s.

Two: Life’s too short to live someone else’s dream.

Gabe’s call on Friday night served to reinforce them both.

I’d just opened Ayana’s when my cell rang, Gabe’s number on the screen. This was not our normal call time. My heart thrummed in my throat.

Rushing to the coat check room, I picked up the call. “Gabe?”

“Hey, baby. Just letting you know I’ve been called out for a fire.”

A wave of dizziness swept over me at the thought of Gabe putting himself in harm’s way. My hand flew out, my palm slapping down on the wall to ground me. “A fire? A real fire? Where is it? Is everyone okay?”

His voice softened. “No one is hurt so far as they know. It’s a warehouse outside of town, but there’s a danger of it spreading because it’s so damn big already. They’re calling pretty much all of us in.”

“Is Dylan going to your parents?”

He cleared his throat. “They’re, uh, not here. They took off for a few nights.”

“Want me to come?” I offered, my heart pounding.

I wanted to be there for both of them, but for me as well.

This was the first time he’d been called in for an actual fire. Mistlevale may as well have been on the moon for how removed I felt from him.

At least if I were at his place, I’d be able to see for myself that he was okay.

“I can call in to work and come look after Dylan.”

His voice even softer, he answered, “Thank you, Shae-baby, but it’s okay.” He snorted. “For once, Zoe’s timing is impeccable. She’s going to stay at the house until I get home.”

My spine turned to ice.

“In your bed?” I blurted out the question without thought.

“No,” he scoffed. “Of course not. She’ll stay in the guest room.” He paused. “If it makes you more comfortable, I’ll send Dylan with her to the hotel. We’ve done it before, just not usually on a school night.”

I wanted to say yes, I wanted to say yes desperately, but that wasn’t fair to Dylan. “No, it’s okay.”

This wasn’t about not trusting Gabe. My brain was going rogue, sure life was gearing up to pull the rug from under me. I gritted my teeth and yanked it back online.

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