Page 30 of Never Never

I scribble the numbers down.

“You really think that’s something helpful?”

“I don’t know. It could be.”

Fox straightens up and nods. “Well…how can I help?”

My heart melts a little. How can he help?

“Take care of Wendy,” I say, after a moment. “Hang out with her, do something fun. Take her mind off of things a little.”

“Yeah?” Fox brightens. “That’d help?”

“Yeah, totally,” I say. “She likes you. And you’re good at that. You have that big-brother energy.”

Fox goes a little pink behind his freckles. Which, I have to say, is kind of cute.

“Okay,” he says, nodding. “Yeah, sure. Sure, I’ll think of something fun we can do. I do just so happen to have this random bounty from Tito burning a hole in my pocket, so…” He screws up his face, thinking. “Maybe we can work on a bike, or make some food, or⁠—”

A heavy set of footfalls cuts him off. Pan stalks across the kitchen, prized leather jacket over one shoulder, his eyes only briefly darting from me to Fox to the back door.

“Be back,” he says, to no one in particular. The door slams after him.

Fox’s eyebrows go sky-high. He folds his arms, swiveling his astonished gaze from the back door to me.

“You’re still not talking, huh?”

I lower my phone. “What do I have to say to him?”

Realistically, though? A lot. There’s plenty I could say. Plenty if I thought Pan would listen.

But he won’t. He can’t. And so I’m not going to bother. I’m not wasting any more energy on him and his problems.

Fox opens his mouth, then shuts it. “No, totally fair. I guess I was just thinking…” He scratches the back of his neck. “You know, how you were saying you needed someone who understood that kind of thinking. Pan might be able to help? He deals with Krye and his guys, at least.”

I purse my lips. Then an idea hits me.

I pull out my phone and tap open a new message to Zuzu.

hey sorry to ask again, but can you help me with something?

not a rescue mission this time, promise

just talking about some business stuff

Hopefully she picks up what I’m putting down. I click my phone to sleep, but it lights back up almost immediately.

yes of course miss tink

you know i am expert BUSINESS woman

about to teach class, then i can come

I cast an eye around at the crumpled socks on the ground, the mystery crumbs on the table, and the cityscape of dishes in the sink.

Even with Pan out, I’d really rather not meet here. And he could come back any minute, which isn’t ideal either.

As if Zuzu can read my mind, my phone pings again.