A wave of guilt swept over him as he remembered how he’d spent the last two days—by her side and in her bed. Although he’d made his position clear in the beginning, the lines had definitely begun to blur. “She knows how I feel about Shiloh,” he replied.

Aiyana didn’t seem pleased by his response. “Shiloh’s dead, Seth. Don’t let what you feel for her stop you from moving on and loving someone else.”

He dumped his coffee down the sink because it was suddenly making his stomach sour. “If only that was something I could control, Mom.”

Tia was nervous as she settled into a plastic chair along the back wall of the gymnasium. Seth wasn’t expecting her to be there, but as private and contemplative as he could be, she knew he wasn’t particularly excited to speak in public, and she wanted to support him in doing what he could for Aiyana and the school where he’d finally found a home.

Because she’d slipped in after the assembly started, she hadn’t encountered anyone who’d paid her any mind. And she was wearing her beanie, glasses and scarf, so even if someone did notice her arrival, she didn’t expect to be recognized on sight. The students were playing some Christmas trivia as she shoved her purse under the chair and glanced around, relieved to find that no one was looking at her. No one was even sitting close by. The students were in a tighter group, closer to the stage. Only the teachers lingered in the chairs that were strung out like beads falling from a broken necklace in back.

Eli spotted her first. He wasn’t on stage with Seth and his mother; he was leaning against the wall not far from where she’d sat down. He nodded when he realized he had her attention, and she gave him a subtle nod in return.

As Aiyana started to award prizes to those who’d gotten the most correct answers on the holiday trivia, Tia knew she had to take off her sunglasses or she’d stand out for wearing them inside the building. She was just working up the nerve to do that when Eli strode over, pulled up a chair and sat down.

“Hey,” he whispered.

She glanced around again before finally removing her sunglasses. “Hey.”

“It’s nice of you to come.”

“I wanted to hear what Seth has to say. He’s such a natural at what he does. I know he’ll be an inspiration to these kids.”

Eli grinned.

“What?”

“Nothing. He’s definitely talented,” he said, but that grin only broadened.

She got the impression Eli knew how she felt about Seth, but she wasn’t trying to deny it. She knew that would probably only make her more transparent.