There was a brief silence. Cassidy's expression shifted, surprised, cautious.
"Oh," she said carefully. "That was a long time ago."
Hannah smiled, gentle but knowing. "Yeah. A lot has changed since then."
Xavier tilted his head slightly as Hannah casually mentioned the name Zeke. It triggered something in his memory, a faint sense of recognition, but not enough to place it. He glanced at Cassidy. The way her body tensed didn't escape him. Her posture was too careful.
Zeke? The name echoed in his mind. Was that the guy from that dinner? The one Thomas brought?
His eyes moved between the two women, his mind racing. Cassidy's reaction hadn't been nothing, he could feel it. And now, he couldn't stop wondering.
Hannah opened her mouth, about to speak again, but Cassidy spoke first. Her cheerfulness felt just a bit forced.
"Well, now that you've reunited with your sister, I think it's time we head home. Claire must be tired."
