Page 60 of Devlin

“Mia, are you okay?” Robert asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Devlin turned his head sharply, his attention snapping to Robert, then to Mia.

She offered a small, tight smile and nodded once. “I’m fine, thanks.”

Robert wasn’t convinced. “You seem to have something on your mind that’s troubling you.”

Devlin’s jaw tensed, his gaze narrowing slightly. He didn’t like someone else pressing her for answers, not when he hadbeen waiting all night to ask his own questions. Leaning closer to her, his voice dropped. “Are you ready to head back?”

She met his gaze, her lips curving in relief. “Yeah.”

Offering a polite smile to those at the table, she stood, and Devlin followed as they stepped outside into the cool evening air. The walk toward her quarters was quiet. Too quiet. The air between them practically crackled with her irritation, though she said nothing.

By the time they reached her room and stepped inside, the tension had thickened.

Mia whirled on him the moment the door shut, planting her hands on her hips as she glared up at him. “You were in a weird mood at dinner. What’s going on? If you’re rethinking our newfound relationship, I want to know. The last thing I want is another surprise from you.”

His head jerked back slightly, her words hitting him like a punch. Of all the things she could have suspected—that wasn’t what he expected. His voice came firm, decisive. “No, not that. Not that at all.”

Her arms crossed, skepticism clear in her stance. “Then what’s going on?”

“You seemed tense.”

“I was tense because you had growly vibes coming from you!” she bit out.

There was no smooth way to ease into it, so he just blurted it out. “What are your future plans?”

She blinked, then blinked again, her head tilting slightly as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “I’m sorry?”

He sighed, running a hand down his face. “It’s something Moses and Enock were discussing earlier. It’s been stuck in my head all day.”

Mia frowned, confusion etched into her delicate features. “Devlin, you have to give me more than that. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His shoulders tensed, frustration curling at the edges of his voice. “Your future plans,” he repeated. “After here. And when is that, by the way?”

She licked her bottom lip, her gaze thoughtful.

“It’s not a trick question, Mia,” he said, softening his tone. “We’ve talked so much about the past that I don’t even know what your future looks like.” The admission cost him more than he cared to admit. He didn’t know if she saw him in that future, and the uncertainty gnawed at him.

Mia turned away, walking to the bed before sinking onto the edge. Her hands clasped together in her lap, her fingers twisting slightly. Devlin glanced at the chair nearby but dismissed it. He didn’t want any distance between them. Instead, he moved to her side, settling beside her on the mattress.

“I only have another month at this camp with the WFP,” she said quietly.

Devlin’s brows lifted slightly, surprised by the short timeline.

“Dr. München has said that if I want to renew, he would love to have me. Margarethe said she would approve anywhere I wanted to go, even staying here if that’s what I chose.”

Keeping his voice even, he asked, “And what do you want?”

Her gaze dropped to her hands, fingers pressing together. “I haven’t seen my parents in almost eighteen months. I want to go back to Kansas and reconnect with my family, at least for a while. The last time I was home was for Toby’s wedding. He and his wife just had a baby boy two months ago.” A faint, wistful smile touched her lips. “I’m an aunt, and I haven’t even met my nephew.”

Devlin nodded, processing her words. The thought of her younger brother, who he still pictured as a high school kid, nowa husband and father was strange. “That would be good for you. I’m sure your parents would love to have you home.”

Silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Clearing his throat, he nudged, “And after your leave time is over?”

Mia hesitated before exhaling deeply and lifting her eyes to him. “I’m tired, Devlin. I’ve spent the past ten years traveling the world, working in refugee camps. I’ve been a WASH coordinator, a food security officer, a livelihood coordinator…” She let out a short, humorless laugh. “Margarethe thinks I have a career moving up in the WFP, maybe to a managerial role. But that would still mean constant travel. More time away.”

Devlin watched her closely and saw the exhaustion in her eyes, the quiet weight pressing down on her. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers skimming along the curve of her neck.

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