Sighing, Gem pulls me into a hug. “Come here, sweetie. It’s going to be okay. And just because he’s a Leo doesn’t mean you two can’t work it out. We both know I’m a little biased with them, and I can’t hold my ex’s mistakes against all Leos.”
“Owen’s a Leo,” I mutter.
She lets me out of her death-grip hug then points out, “And he made a mistake that I’d bet a million bucks he regrets more than anything else in the world.”
“Good point,” I concede.
“Did you tell Gage how you felt?”
“Do I look like a crazy person who wants their heart broken?”
“No.” She grabs a miniature raspberry cupcake from the buffet table and begins to remove the paper wrapping. “You look like a girl who’s finally considering opening herself to someone despite the possibility of getting her heart broken. There’s a difference. You’re brave, girl. And you deserve a happily ever after.”
A stack of black napkins are on the table, and I grab one, then dab it beneath my watery eyes. “You think so?”
Popping the bite-sized dessert into her mouth, she chews it for a minute while considering the situation from all angles. Then she swallows and says, “Yup. Hang out with Gage tomorrow. Tell him how you feel. And ignore the whole eclipse thing. Seriously. I never meant to freak you out with all this superstition. I just wanted you to know that the universe is aware of you and what you need. That’s all.”
“You’re the bestest friend a girl could ever ask for. You know that, right?”
“Damn right, I am,” she returns with the confidence of a runway model. “You ready to call it a night?”
“Yup.” I take a step toward the exit with Gem by my side before turning on my heel and reaching for one of the brownie bites that’d been taunting me. Another pathetic whimper escapes me as I inspect it closely, then laugh at how ridiculous I’m being. Tossing it into my mouth, I chew it and swallow quickly while refusing to acknowledge how moist and rich the dessert is. In fact, it might even be the best brownie I’ve ever tasted.
And I never would’ve known if I hadn’t turned around and grabbed one before heading down to my room. Before I can overthink it, I grab three more.
Damn brownies.
13
Gage
My knee is bouncing like a freaking jackhammer beneath the table as I wait for Gem and Nora to meet us for brunch.
“You sure she’ll be here?” I ask Conner.
“Yeah, man. She said ten in the morning, and it’s ten in the morning. Give her a break.”
“Sorry.” I sit up a little straighter, then scan the packed dining room. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones who thought it would be a great idea to grab brunch.
“What happened between you two last night, anyway?”
My gaze darts over to him before I clear my throat. “What do you mean, what happened to us? Did she, uh…did she say something?”
‘Cause I sure as hell would like to know what the hell happened, I think to myself.
“She grabbed Gem as the singles’ workshop was wrapping up. She looked upset.”
I don’t miss the accusation in his voice, but I ignore it and continue searching for the brunette who’s stolen all my logic since the moment I laid eyes on her. “I dunno what happened. I’ll talk to her, though.”
“Good.” He opens his mouth to say something else when Gem appears through the entrance. Nora isn’t anywhere to be seen.
I fight the panic that threatens to take hold as Gem sways toward us.
“Hey, sorry I’m late. I was just checking in with Nora. I think she caught the flu or something.”
“Shit, that sucks,” Conner replies before wrapping his arm around her slim waist and pecking her on the lips.
As she sits down, she says, “Yeah, she didn’t look too great when I checked on her. Maybe she ate something bad? I don’t know. She wanted me to let you guys know that she’s sorry she couldn’t make it.”
“Does she need anything?” I interject, surprising myself with my concern as much as them.
“Umm….” Gem thinks for a few seconds before shrugging. “I was going to grab her some toast or a banana or something after brunch––”
My chair squeaks as it scrapes across the hardwood floors. “I got it. Have fun.”
“You sure?” Gem returns. You’d think I had been replaced with a three-headed dog with how Gem is staring at me.
“Yeah. Not a big deal. See you guys later.”
Grabbing a banana, an English muffin, and a little sample of grape jelly, I dodge between a few people, then rush down the ship toward the sleeping quarters. There’s an urgency in my steps that makes my gut tighten, and I can’t quite put my finger on why I’m feeling so anxious. Maybe it’s because of how we left things. Maybe it’s because I hate being around sick people, but I hate the idea of Nora being alone even more. Maybe it’s because Dr. Lorringer got in my head, and I can’t get all the questions she stirred up to leave me alone.
My knuckles turn white as I hold onto the railing and take the stairs two at a time down to her room, but my pace slows when I reach the correct floor. Am I really willingly going to enter a sick person’s room all because I feel bad they’re alone and want them to feel better?
With a groan, I look left and right down the endless corridor, then take a deep breath. I’m really doing this. The hall that leads to her room feels like it’s closing in on me as I juggle the banana and English Muffin from one hand to the other. Door after door, I search for her room number.
Three-Two-Zero-Four.
After tapping my knuckles against the thick metal door, I wait.
And wait.
And wait.
No one answers, so I try again, then rock back on my heels.
Still, there’s only silence.
What if something’s wrong? What if something happened? Is
