Page 74 of Unearthed Dreams

“What kind of stuff?” I asked, trying to sound casual while my mind raced through possibilities.

“Just... stuff.” Tessa’s Her tone made it clear the subject was closed. “She’ll be fine.”

A jet ski roared past, sending waves slapping against the shore, but it couldn’t quite drown out the sound of a familiar truck engine. We all turned to watch Chase’s beaten-up Ford speed past on the coastal road, heading toward town.

“It’s not even noon,” Natalie muttered.

“Has he seemed...” I paused, searching for the right words, terrified of revealing too much. If Chase hadn’t told them about catching me with Kai, I didn’t want to draw attention to his recent behavior. But if he had... “Different lately?”

My heart hammered as I watched their reactions, looking for any flicker of recognition that might mean they knew what had happened at the bookstore. Knew about Kai. Knew everything.

“Different how?” Tessa asked, but her tone suggested she knew exactly what I meant.

The memory of Chase stumbling into the bookstore hit me again—the chemical smell clinging to his clothes, the wild look in his eyes, the cruel words he’d spat at me and Kai. I swallowed hard.

“I don’t know. Just... not himself?”

“Chase has always been Chase,” Natalie said carefully. “You know how he gets sometimes.”

“Yeah, but this feels...” I trailed off, not sure how to explain without revealing what had happened at the bookstore. Without exposing my relationship with Kai.

“Worse,” Tessa finished for me, her usual vibrant energy subdued. “I know.”

My phone buzzed again.

KAI

Any sign of him today?

CHARLIE

Just saw his truck heading into town. Going way too fast.

Tessa sat up in her chair, adjusting her hat. “Something must be in the water.” She glanced pointedly at the lake mere feet away. “Between Elena being weird and Chase being... extra Chase-y, I’m on edge, and not in the kinky way.”

Natalie snorted into her cider. “Everything’s kinky with you.”

“Not lately.” Tessa sighed dramatically. “Elliot’s too busy with harvest prep to properly scandalize me.”

But the humor felt forced, like we were all trying too hard to maintain the illusion of a normal girls’ day.

KAI

Be careful if you see him

Call me if you need me

The protectiveness in his words made my chest tight. I wanted to tell Tessa and Natalie everything—about Kai, about Chase at the bookstore, about how scared I was for my brother. But some secrets weren’t mine to tell.

Kai valued his privacy, and I valued his life.

Who knew what would happen if my other two brothers found out what I’d been up to.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

KAI

“Of all the gin joints...”