trucks.
His stride shifted, and he followed her over to her SUV.
“Wait!” Cat called.
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw her coming out of the main doors as she tugged on a jacket and ran down the stairs. “I can’t believe you guys were going without me.” She skidded to a stop beside me as I curled my hand over one of the back door handles.
Before I could reply, Flynn glanced over. “We’re in a hurry. Hop in.”
Even though I was freaking out more than a little inside, I was relieved to be with my family. My brother’s unflappable calm presence was helpful, and Daphne’s warm, quiet support was a balm to my jangled nerves.
Daphne moved to get in the driver’s seat, but Flynn caught her lightly on the elbow. “I’ll drive.”
She looked up at him, her eyes narrowing. When she opened her mouth to reply, he shook his head sharply. “Sweetheart, I drive faster than you,” he said bluntly.
Daphne immediately handed him the keys and rounded the front of the SUV to climb in the passenger side. As she was buckling up, she replied, “I know you do, and speed is of the essence this time.”
As Flynn started driving, I laced my fingers together in an attempt to quell the rising tide of worry, dread, and regret from overwhelming me. It was to no avail. I mentally castigated myself for pulling back and getting upset over something so minor. So what if Gabriel didn’t want to talk to me about his mother? Perhaps he felt he’d said all there was to say. It’s not as if I enjoyed talking about my father.
At least the first time I broke things off with him, I could make sense of it. This time, my own defensiveness was my only excuse—defensiveness undergirded and made more powerful by fear. I was deeply in love with him and afraid I couldn’t have what I wanted with him.
I stared out the window, watching as early evening shifted to twilight while Flynn drove. When I looked ahead once, I saw Daphne reach across the seat and murmur something to Flynn. He caught her hand in his and lifted it to press a kiss on the inside of her wrist.
The moment was brief, lasting no more than seconds, yet the intimacy shimmered between them. It was its own force. My grumpy brother was so in love, and I was so happy for them. I wanted something like that with Gabriel. All of my worries felt small and insignificant now. If he was really hurt, or— It was as if tires screeched in my brain. I couldn’t even let myself think about the worst-case scenario.
“Everyone’s alive, right?” My question came out in a rush in the quiet space of the vehicle.
My eyes stung with tears, and I knuckled them away. Cat whipped her gaze toward me, her eyes widening as she drew in a sharp breath.
“Of course. I already told you that,” Flynn said, his tone calm and level.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
I fumbled for my phone, abruptly realizing I didn’t even have it with me. “Can somebody lend me their phone?” I asked, my voice shaky.
“Let me call,” Daphne said from the front as Cat shimmied on the seat to get her phone out of her back pocket.
“Let me—” I began.
Flynn’s voice cut through, clear, commanding, and decisive. “Let Daphne call for an update. You’re too upset.”
For once, I didn’t argue with my brother. I’d spent the majority of my childhood proving I was a tough girl. With two older brothers, being tough and independent was a primary goal. I hated being emotional and overwrought, but right now, even I knew I probably wouldn’t be sensible if I couldn’t get the answers I wanted.
Flynn calmly recited the local police's non-emergency number to Daphne before she lifted the phone to her ear. After a moment, she said, “Hello, Darren. We figured we’d try you first. This is Daphne Bell. We were wondering if you had an update on the group on Nathan Winters’ boat. I’m with Flynn, Nora, and Cat, and we’re on the way to the hospital to check on Gabriel.”
She was quiet as she listened, offering a few murmured hums before she finally asked, “When do you think they’ll arrive at the hospital?”
Another pause, which felt like forever, before she said, “Got it. We should be there in about fifteen minutes. Please call this number if you have any more updates. Thank you again.”
I had no idea how long the