25. Chapter Twenty-Six #4
“Water and food. Preferably in that order.” I answered Luca as the emptiness in my stomach finally registered.
“I can do that.” Luca replied as he turned toward the storage area, moving only after I'd actually asked.
“I had food ready before you arrived and ruined my system.” Tavian informed me as he reclaimed the fruit he'd abandoned, relief finally beginning to loosen his posture.
“You were cutting fruit. That is not a system.” I told Tavian as I looked at the uneven pieces beside his knife, grateful for something stupid and familiar after the afternoon we'd just had.
“There was an order. You disrupted it.” Tavian insisted as he pointed toward the pieces with complete seriousness, though the hint of a grin had finally returned.
A reluctant smile pulled at my mouth as Luca came back with water and something more substantial to eat.
Once I'd taken several drinks and eaten enough that I no longer felt hollow, I looked at the three men around the table and thought about what Malek and I had discussed on the trail.
“What happens when I travel after Patagonia?” I asked all three men as I kept both hands around the cup, wanting to talk about the future without turning tonight into a planning meeting for every assignment I might ever take.
“Sometimes I come, like we talked about. If you want me there and the job allows it.” Tavian answered after taking a few seconds to think, resting one hip against the table while his expression remained thoughtful instead of playful.
“I'd like that sometimes.” I told Tavian as I met his amber eyes, appreciating the sometimes more than I would have appreciated a promise about every trip.
“And when it doesn't make sense for someone to go with you, we deal with that job when it actually exists. You tell us what help you want, and we don't invent problems for you ahead of time.” Luca told me as he sat beside me, his forearm resting loosely against the table.
“Please remember you said that.” I told Luca as I gave him a tired smile, already knowing his practical brain was going to need the occasional reminder.
“I expect reminders.” Luca replied with a small smile as a quiet purr started beneath his words.
Malek met my eyes from across the table.
“Sometimes I stay here. The sanctuary needs me, and there will be places I can't follow.” Malek said, his voice quieter than Tavian's or Luca's as his forearms rested against his thighs.
He didn't repeat what we'd already said on the trail, and I didn't need him to.
I knew now what staying meant for Malek.
He could worry, dislike the distance, and still trust me enough not to turn those feelings into another decision I had to make for him.
At six, I made the check-in I'd promised Mara from the outer terrace where the radio signal was usually clearest.
“Station, this is Evie. Six-o'clock check-in.” I said into the radio as evening light filtered through the opening in the canopy and the first frogs started calling somewhere beyond the old walls.
“Evie, base. Copy six. How are you feeling?” Mara asked through the speaker, her voice faintly distorted by static.
“Still fine. No delayed pain, and nothing has changed with the terrace since I reported it.” I assured Mara as I shifted my weight and checked the lingering soreness in my legs.
“Good. Stick with the morning plan and update me before you move out.” Mara replied as paper rustled faintly behind her voice.
“Will do. Evie out.” I told Mara as I glanced toward the fading light beyond the wall.
“Mara clear.” Mara answered before the channel returned to static.
When I returned to the courtyard, Tavian was accusing me of stealing one of his better pieces of fruit even though he'd been the one to push the plate toward me. The macaw was still overhead listening to everything.
He gave it to you, the macaw informed me as Tavian pointed accusingly toward the missing piece, clearly unimpressed by his version of events.
“I know.” I told the macaw as I sat back down, which immediately made Tavian narrow his eyes toward the bird.
“It's taking your side, isn't it?” Tavian asked as he looked between the macaw and me with obvious suspicion.
“Completely.” I told Tavian as I ate another bite, enjoying his offended expression while Luca's purr continued beside me.
Malek remained close without reaching for me, and after everything that had happened that afternoon, I noticed the choice.
Tavian kept muttering about stolen fruit, Luca eventually pushed another piece toward me when he thought I wasn't looking, and the evening sounds of the rainforest grew louder beyond the old stone walls as darkness settled between the trees.
I had always known how to leave. What I was learning now was that having people waiting for me didn't take that ability away. I could go when the work called, spend weeks or months somewhere else, and still choose what happened when the assignment was over.
For the first time, those things didn't feel like competing versions of my life.