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I narrowed my eyes at her suspiciously. She was giving me a half-truth. I could tell by the way her eyes darted back to the pizza.

“Kaylee, you know how I feel about dishonesty.”

She twisted her lips. “I swear I didn’t know the app would connect the two of you or that he even knew you. I asked a bunch of people to volunteer for my app.” She picked up the pizza. “I like Arrow. He’s smart, and he teaches us lots of things even though he doesn’t have to. He spends a lot of time at the center, hanging with us.”

That was something I didn’t know. I assumed he just funded the organization like most wealthy people who used that as a photo op to write off their taxes and so forth.

“And.”

“One day, he said he was interested in this dentist. And I thought of you. But I knew you weren’t interested in anyone after that jerk Connor cheated on you.” Her eyebrows bunched. “You should’ve kicked his ass. Actually, you punched him.”

“Language.”

She clamped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. It’s true though.” She shrugged and took another bite of her pizza. “I don’t know why, but I like the idea of you and Arrow together. He’s cute, and you’re gorgeous. I know we’re here to look for Aimee, but that doesn’t mean you can’t like a guy. Nothing has changed for me. I’m still going to school, doing my thing, and praying that we find her soon. I miss her.”

I loved that Kaylee and Aimee got along. They had bonded over their affection for Sanrio characters. What was Aimee doing right now? Was she eating pizza? Or was she locked up in some room, crying for someone to save her? I understood the terror she was experiencing. I’d been a desperate girl, hoping someone would save me on that day when Ghost tortured me. That trauma was ingrained in me.

“We’ll find her.” I leaned back in the chair and crossed my arms. “So you didn’t set us up?”

“Nope. The app did that. Guess it works! It used your profile data and randomly chose some tugs for you.” She finished her pizza and gulped down her lemonade. “Do you like him?”

“Something like that.”

“Yes!” She punched her hand into the air. “My Heartstrings app is the best!”

I didn’t want to tell Kaylee that Arrow had pursued me before I met him on the app. But I also liked Bullseye. I supposed I got the best of both worlds.

“Are you mad at me?” Kaylee asked.

“No. I’m sorry I haven’t stopped by Whiz Kidz as often as I’d like. If I had, I would’ve known you knew Arrow.”

As we cleared the table, my phone buzzed with a reminder that it was time to meet Calvin. I prayed he had good news for me about Aimee.

CHAPTERTHIRTY

VIVIAN

Calvin had beenspecific about me coming alone. What had he found out about Aimee?

I’d dreamed about Aimee last night. I hoped she knew her parents and I were still searching for her. That we’d never give up.

I needed to make time for Christmas shopping for Kaylee as well. My dad called yesterday to let me know he’d be in Vietnam with Rose for the holidays. I was happy he was going away with her. Rose had taken care of him in more ways than one. I knew Dad was hesitant about starting a new relationship. He’d told me once that my mom was his soulmate, and he didn’t want to betray her by loving another woman.

That had been years ago, and I prayed that one day he’d understand that Mom would’ve wanted him to be happy. My parents’ love for each other was the ideal relationship I had dreamed about all my life. Would I ever find someone who loved me that deeply?

Mom left The Triad because she loved my dad. She left a dangerous family for a more peaceful life.

Arrow’s face popped into my mind, and I smiled at our impending duel. He was the first man to make me feel safe and hopeful. I wasn’t as tense or stressed about everything when he was around. But I didn’t want to depend on someone else. What if things didn’t work out between us? Where would that leave me?

Dependence made a person weak, and I’d been relying on myself for too long to change my routine. Yet I couldn’t help letting myself go when he held me.

A reminder buzzed on my phone. Kaylee was staying late at Whiz Kidz because she was presenting her dating app to the software team, along with the other kids. I would’ve attended to support her, but I couldn’t miss this important meeting with Calvin. Kaylee promised to send me the recording of her presentation for me to watch later.

I walked into Bella’s Bistro, and a youthful and vibrant atmosphere greeted me. It had interesting artwork on the colorful walls and unique lighting running across the ceiling. At four in the evening, the eclectic restaurant was packed with people. Three people stood waiting at the pickup section. A group of students huddled in the corner with their drinks, backpacks, laptops, and phones.

A few college students with their Brown University and RISD sweatshirts occupied a couple of tables by the wall. The lively restaurant was in a shopping strip with an adorable boutique, flower shop,and two other restaurants farther down. I planned to take Kaylee here one day.

I ordered a chai latte, got an empty table by the window, and waited for Calvin.