Page 27 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

“I’ll see if Walt wants to put a detail on him, but you know we won’t be able to bust him, Noah. It’ll jeopardize the op too much.”

This is the part I hated. I knew getting the guys at the top would put a stop to the whole chain of things, but the thought of these losers getting to the kids pissed me off.

“Yeah, I know. I still haven’t heard much more about the shipment. I’m hoping I’ll have something when I see Leah next.”

Kate nodded. I could see her mind going over the same issues I was a second ago. We spent the next half an hour going over everything the department had going on and where they were at with things coming to an end.

“We’ll get them, Kate,” I said determinedly when we’d finished.

“I know. Just stay safe, okay?” She squeezed my hand and pushed herself off the couch. I watched her throw on her robe and wrap it around her waist before coming to pull me to my feet.

I felt her standing behind me as I opened the door and walked out without so much as a backwards glance. I felt horrible acting that way. It wasn’t in my nature to be so disconnected from people, but if TJ had anyone watching me, they needed to think I was just making a booty call, and nothing else.

Chapter 21

Kaeli

Mia followed through with her promise and rang me again on Sunday. After a quick discussion, we agreed to meet at our usual spot in the park.

As I walked along the path, I couldn’t help but remember the last time we’d met like this. It was when Mia was having problems with her life, trying to work out how she could possibly fit Jace into it.

I tried to take solace from the fact that everything seemed to work out for her, so hopefully the same would happen for me. It wasn’t much, but it was all I had.

“Well, at least you’re smiling…” Mia said as I got closer.

I rolled my eyes at her. “I told you I was fine.”

She shrugged, but she was still smiling. “I’m glad you were able to get out.”

“Yeah, it feels good. I was just remembering the last time we were here.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “Oh wow. Yeah, I was a mess back then, huh?”

“Nah, you were just trying to work out how to make everything fit into your life. I think when it’s hard like that, it means it’s worthwhile. Don’t you think?”

She grinned. “Yeah, it’s definitely worthwhile.”

I laughed at her dreamy expression.

She was still smiling as she sank down on the bench in the sun. “Have you heard from Josh lately?” she asked, closing her eyes.

Josh was the only one from our tight nit group of friends, other than Mia of course, who I’d been good friends with before Mia started seeing Jace. We’d known each other since first grade, and were close friends right up until he’d left in our freshman year to pursuit a career in acting. Even though he was now pretty well-known in Hollywood, he was still very grounded and hadn’t once forgotten who his real friends were.

“He text me last week. His schedule’s pretty crazy right now. Apparently they’re behind.”

Mia nodded, peaking at me through her lashes. “Does he think he’s still going to be able to make it back over the summer?”

“I don’t know. Hopefully. I miss him.”

She hummed in agreement.

“So, what’s your boy up to today?” I asked, stretching out.

“Oh, he’s hanging with the gang back at our house.”

I frowned. Everyone was hanging out without us? “The gang? As in everybody?”

“Yeah, the band, Amber, Jess, Ryan, Amy…”

---