A Matter of Truth (Fate, #3)

My head snaps forward so I can stare at her. I really should get a roster of the damn committee already.

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, it means what you think it means. Obviously, he’s completely aware of everything that went down in Alaska and Russia now that Zthane finally spilled the beans. And before you ask how I know, obviously my mom is on the Subcommittee, too.”

My whispered question about whether or not there’s still hope barely voices against the sounds of the city behind us.

“Here’s my two cents on the issue—which ought to come with a disclaimer, since he’s not actually speaking to me about you or anything. But . . . you threw J for a loop, Chloe. Big time. He’s had a lot of loss in his life, what with his mom and Uncle Joey—even, to some extent, Hannah; it’s in his nature to withdraw into himself, especially since his father was always on him and Kel to not embarrass the family by acting overemotional.” She grimaces and adds, “Unprofessional. Can you believe it?” She shakes her head. “But let’s not talk about Ewan Whitecomb and his idiotic notions on how his children ought to act. We’re talking about how he lost his mom and then Joey, two of the most important people in his life, and how he lost you, only to have you come back looking like a whole different person. I honestly don’t think J knows how to deal with it. Not like Kel, anyway, who’s long learned how to deal with life without you. Jonah’s hurting right now. I mean—it’s obvious to us all he’s thinking about you, and trying in his own way to . . . I don’t know . . . help you via the Subcommittee the best he can, but . . .” She leans forward. “You need to give him some time.”

Dammit. I’ve started to cry. Gods, I’ve made such a mess of everything.

“What’s going on out here?”

Will’s standing in the open French doors, holding an open cardboard box. Nell jumps up in an effort to get to the box.

I wipe my eyes. “Nothing. Just . . .” I quickly glance at Callie, who is staring at Will. Like . . . really staring, and I can’t tell if it’s because she’s annoyed he’s here, fascinated with him, disgusted he’s carrying food, or finds him extremely hot. “A reality check, I guess.” I motion toward Callie. “You remember Callie Lotus?”

“How could I forget,” he says flatly, dropping the box on the glass table in front of me. He gently pushes his dog away from the table. “Adopted daughter of my Godmother, biological offspring of my Godfather,” he waves a hand between them, “fellow Métis, etc . . . etc . . .”

Callie’s frown deepens, but her eyes do not leave him.

He sinks down on the couch next to me and drags the box closer. “Do you know how long it took me to find this bloody hot dog cart of yours? And then how long I had to wait in line to buy these things?”

I press a hand lovingly against his cheek—bless this boy for both the hot dogs and for trying to change the subject to something less painful—and then reach for one of my special treats. Good lords, have I missed the Gnomish hot dog cart by the entrance to Annar’s central plaza. “Thank you for braving the big city for me.”

“Here to steal more of my tequila?” he says to Callie.

She’s sucking on a lemon when she says, “As a matter of fact, I’m here to invite you all to dinner Friday night. Mom thinks it would be . . .”—she goes to roll her eyes, but thinks better of it—“a good idea to reacquaint”—her face pinches even tighter—“herself with you and your father, although I have no idea why.” She flips the end of her long, silvery ponytail up to inspect non-existent split ends. “And of course, see you, Chloe. Mom’s missed you, too.”

“Reacquainted,” Will snorts. “You do know that they’ve been chatting on the phone together, right? I think Dad even went and had lunch with your mum one day.”

Callie and Will stare at each other so long and hard I actually start feeling uncomfortable. I slowly unwrap one of the hot dogs. “Is this like one of your family dinners?”

All the weirdness (hostility? I still can’t tell) she’d just shown Will melts into pity. “If you’re asking if J will be there, then no. He’s off on a mission to South Africa in the morning. Kel will be, though. He’ll be coming back from Oklahoma City just in time.”

I remember how desperate I used to be to spend time with Kellan, how, if I’m being honest with myself, I still am, but right now? I’d give anything and everything to even have five minutes alone with Jonah. Or, hell, even just be in the same room as him.