Gypsy king

At least I had the bags with all the burgers.

“Sorry,” I told Genevieve.

“Two weeks ago, I was alone, trying to cope with losing Mom. Then I get kidnapped, find out I have a father in Montana who didn’t know I existed and a half brother who hates me. I’m numb to it all at this point.”

I opened my mouth to tell her she actually had brothers, plural, but decided it could wait for another day. “Dash doesn’t hate you. He just hasn’t had much time to wrap his head around it.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She hung her head. “Nothing matters.”

Before I could say anything, a pair of footsteps came down the stairs.

My eyes widened. “Isaiah? Where have you been? We thought you left.”

“I did. Now I’m back.”

He’d been gone a week, ever since the day of the mountain rescue. No note. No call. He’d just . . . disappeared. Did Dash know he was back?

Isaiah reached the bottom stair and looked at Genevieve. “Hey.”

“Hi.” She lifted her hand like she was going to shake his but then changed her mind and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Um, how was the trip?” Isaiah asked.

“Long.”

The Colorado plates. I hadn’t put it together at the cemetery, assuming she’d just rented a car, but this must be hers. Why would she drive to Montana? That had to be at least eight hours. Maybe more.

“I’ll help haul up your stuff.” Isaiah walked toward her car.

Stuff? Genevieve followed, her chin down, as Isaiah opened the back seat. It was filled with boxes and suitcases. Inside the trunk was more of the same.

“Are you staying?” I asked her.

Genevieve and Isaiah shared a look, one full of secrets. She nodded and Isaiah hefted out a suitcase and backpack, taking them up his stairs. She followed with a box.

Neither of them answered my question.

“What’s goin’ on?” Dash asked, coming to my side. “Was that Isaiah?”

“Yes. And I have no idea.” Genevieve and Isaiah disappeared up the stairs. “But if I had to guess, I’d say Genevieve is moving into Isaiah’s apartment.”

He looked down at me, as confused as I was. “What the fuck happened on that mountain?”