Page 32 of The Immortal's One

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“I loved it.” The memory of Greece’s beauty fills my mind. I sigh. “I hope to go back one day.”

Despite missing my hometown, the Mediterranean had a calm, timeless feel—a stillness that settled deep inside me. It felt like a place I could live in, maybe even call home for a while. I really do plan to go back, even if it’s just for the chance to have arealvacation.

“Is that so?” Lome’s eyes flick to Thane with a look I can’t decipher. It’s quick, almost imperceptible, but it doesn’t escape me.

“So, Darcie?” Lome continues, pausing to take a sip of his medium roast coffee. “Are you in college?”

The question stirs up depressive thoughts I fight to shove down. "No, not right now, but I hope to enroll next fall.”

“Any idea where you want to go?”

I buy myself a few precious seconds by sipping my drink, only to fight the urge to spit it back into the cup when the piping-hot liquid hits my tongue.

Like father, like daughter.

I swish the coffee around my mouth, forcing the liquid down, then say, “I’m applying to a few places, but I’m not committed to any of them.” I’ll have to weigh the pros andcons of each acceptance letter when they arrive, factoring in Dad’s health into every decision.

“How old are you?” Thane asks.

I blink.

That was abrupt.

“Twenty.” My eyes narrow as I look from one brother to the other.

The two share another loaded look. Thane hums. “Interesting.”

I frown. “How old are you?” The question slips out before I think twice, my voice a little sharper than I intend.

“Older than I look.” Thane drinks his macchiato, his tone casual, seemingly unaware of how rude his evasive answer is, especially after just asking me the same thing.

I’m not usually confrontational. In fact, I’m the type of person who avoids conflict at all costs. But I find myself oddly comfortable calling these two out for some reason.

“Okay…” Frustration creeps into my voice. “This might sound crazy, but am I missing something?”

Thane lifts a brow. “What do you mean?”

I’m not sure why, but there’s something about them—a sense of familiarity—that doesn’t make sense.

When I don’t speak, the brothers exchange another look. My intuition screams that I’m onto something.

Thane rubs a hand over his face and sighs. “Darcie… this might sound strange, but Lome and I think you’re?—”

Before he can finish, someone calls my name from behind.

I whip around, and my heart does a little flip. “Kevin?”

My childhood crush’s grin widens as he gets closer. “I thought that was you.”

I drink him in. Kevin wears a backward baseball cap and atight white t-shirt that makes him look like the high school baseball star he once was. Even though he’s no longer playing, his body is still in fantastic shape.

He stops at the edge of our booth, and his warm brown eyes lock on mine as if I’m the only person in the room. “What are you doing here? I thought you were meeting me and Kayla for brunch.”

“I was—Iam.I’m just having coffee first.” I gesture to my cup. Then, suddenly self-conscious, I ask, “What are you doing here?”

“Grabbing some of Mom’s favorite dark roast beans,” he says with that easy grin I’ve grown to love. “Dad used the last of the bag this morning.”

I sigh.He’s so thoughtful.