Page 89 of Fiona and the Fixer

“Make lots. We were on the red eye,” Jack said.

I headed to the kitchen, and they followed. Grabbing mugs, I poured them each a cup, then started a new pot.

“I’m sorry you had to leave your vacation early,” I told them, trying to make small talk.

“Heard you’re in the FBI,” Jack said. So much for small talk.

I nodded. “That’s right.”

“What are you doing in Coal Springs? Working on a case?”

I flicked my gaze to Hannah. She was why I was here. These past few months I’d been so eager to meet her, to talk with her and now I was nervous. What if she didn’t have bat hearing? What if she was normal? What if she didn’t believe me? What if–

“Hey,” Dax said, coming into the kitchen. Jeans and shirt on. Feet bare. Hair damp.

The guys gave each other a bro hug. “Thanks for coming back.”

“Fiona was about to tell us why she’s in Coal Springs,” Jack said to Dax, although it was aimed at me.

“To meet Hannah,” Dax answered for me. “They both had radiation for brain tumors at the same time.”

Oh my God.

I could hear a bighorn ram fart two counties over with how quiet the kitchen got. I’d practiced what to say toHannah when we met, how I’d say it, but never imagined Dax blurting it out for me.

Hannah looked to me. Then she looked to Jack. Jack looked to Hannah, then to me. Dax looked at all of us.

“You… you had gamma knife radiation, too?” Hannah asked, ringing her hands in front of her. Her expression was an odd mix of apprehension and hopeful. “In May?”

I nodded. “You’re okay?”

“Yeah. You?”

“Yes.”

“You got the letter about the maintenance issue?” she asked, then bit her lip.

I nodded again.

“Did you–” She cleared her throat. “Do you–”

I nodded yet again. I was afraid to speak.

“Oh my God,” Hannah breathed. She reached out and grabbed Jack’s hand.

“What?” Dax asked, glancing between all of us, clearly lost. “What?”

“You’ve got bionic hearing?”

“You can lift heavy things, too?”

Hannah and I spoke at the same time.

“What?” I asked, my mouth dropping open.

“What?” Hannah asked back, her eyes wide.

“WHAT?” Dax shouted. “You have bionic hearing?”

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