I smiled again, and he relaxed a little. “Mel wanted me to throttle her. She really hates that Seeker. And I can’t… find it in myself to blame her.”

“She’s still searching for you. Looks like she had to return the helicopter, at least.”

I closed my eyes, clenched my fists, and concentrated on breathing for several seconds.

“I didn’t used to be afraid of her,” I whispered. “I don’t know why she scares me so much now. Where is she?”

“Don’t worry. She was just up and down the highway yesterday. She won’t find you.”

I nodded, willing myself to believe.

“Can you… can you hear Mel now?” he murmured.

I kept my eyes closed. “I’m… aware of her. She’s listening very hard.”

“What’s she thinking?” His voice was just a whisper.

Here’s your chance, I told her. What do you want to tell him?

She was cautious, for once. The invitation unsettled her. Why? Why does he believe you now?

I opened my eyes and found him staring at my face, holding his breath.

“She wants to know what happened to make you… different now. Why do you believe us?”

He thought for a moment. “An… accumulation of things. You were so… kind to Walter. I’ve never seen anyone but Doc be that compassionate. And you saved Kyle’s life, where most of us would have let him fall just to protect ourselves, intended murder aside. And then you’re such an appalling liar.” He laughed once. “I kept trying to see these things as evidence of some grand plot. Maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow and feel that way again.”

Mel and I flinched.

“But when they started attacking you today… well, I snapped. I could see in them everything that shouldn’t have been in me. I realized I already did believe, and that I was just being obstinate. Cruel. I think I’ve believed since… well, a little bit since that first night when you put yourself in front of me to save me from Kyle.” He laughed as if he didn’t think Kyle was dangerous. “But I’m better at lying than you are. I can even lie to myself.”

“She hopes you won’t change your mind. She’s afraid you will.”

He closed his eyes. “Mel.”

My heart thudded faster in my chest. It was her joy that sped it, not mine. He must have guessed how I loved him. After his questions about Jamie, he must have seen that.

“Tell her… that won’t happen.”

“She hears you.”

“How… straightforward is the connection?”

“She hears what I hear, sees what I see.”

“Feels what you feel?”

“Yes.”

His nose wrinkled. He touched my face again, softly, a caress. “You don’t know how sorry I am.”