Page 85 of Scout

Juniper freezes. “Crap. Wait. Where’s my iPad?”

“What?”

“My iPad. The little one. I need it for filming TikToks. The big one’s too clunky for the ring light.”

“I don’t know—have you tried looking in your tornado of a bedroom?”

“I did! It’s not there!”

She dashes off down the hall, and I follow, peeking under pillows and backpacks while the doorbell rings again.

“They’re gonna think you bailed,” she calls, panicked from the next room.

“I’m not gonna bail because of a missing iPad!”

“But what if I need to film content later?” she yells. “What if Millie and I go viral and it all started with this one missing tablet?!”

“Then your origin story will be tragic.”

I jog back to the front door, brushing my hands over my jeans once, heartbeat slow and steady—until I open it.

There they are.

Kendrix is in a dark henley and black jeans, his tanned skin catching the hall light in a way that makes him look carved from something warm and solid. His hair’s a little messy, like he fought the wind and lost. Xavier’s in a forest green button-down, sleeves rolled to his forearms, that color making the golden undertone of his light brown skin look even warmer. His glasses sit square on his face, the frames dark against his features. His jaw’s tight, like he’s nervous too.

They both smile.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey,” Kendrix echoes, eyes scanning me like he’s checking for signs of cold feet. “You look…”

“Don’t say anything corny,” I warn.

He lifts his hands in surrender. “Noted.”

Xavier gestures behind him. “We’ve got a plan. Nothing fancy.”

“Good,” I say, grabbing my jacket off the hook. “Fancy is all we’ve done. I want normal. Too much fancy makes me itch.”

Then they clock Juniper pacing behind me, visibly frazzled.

“Uh oh,” Kendrix murmurs. “What’s up?”

“She can’t find her iPad,” I say flatly, stepping back so they can come in. “So naturally, the world is ending.”

“Oh no. Not the iPad,” Xavier says, mock-serious, already scanning the room. “Want help?”

“You don’t have to—” I start.

But they’re already moving. Kendrix crouches beside the couch. Xavier lifts up the throw pillows. I start to protest again, but Juniper lights up.

“Yes. Please. I swear Ijusthad it.”

“Did you check the freezer?” Kendrix asks, peering underneath the furniture. “Because one time I—never mind. Found it.”

He emerges, holding the iPad triumphantly. “Under the couch. Classic.”

Juniper gasps and snatches it from him. “Oh, my God. You’re my hero.”