Connor pretended that was an apology. “Understood.”

“You taught me how to fight and how to hide. To listen when my instincts screamed for me to run.” The soft look she gave Evan spoke to her sincerity. “We both know some of those lessons, the repeated practices and drills, weren’t in any WITSEC handbook. You prepared me for things I hope I never have to face.”

“Then my job is done.” Evan gave her another smile then glanced at Connor. “Do you mind if we—”

“Yeah, of course.” Connor got it. If Evan could concede, so could he. There were still a lot of loose ends and open questions, but Evan being here and acting like this was a huge step forward. “You two probably have some things to wrap up. I can head over to the Lodge.”

“I’ll drive her over in a few minutes.” After a bit of hesitation, Evan held out a hand. “Thanks.”

“For what?” But Connor met the other man halfway and shook his hand.

“Watching over her.”

Statements like that showed that Evan didn’t know her as well as he thought he did. The watching over part was mutual.

Connor winked at her. “My pleasure.”

“All right.” Evan dropped his hand. “That’s more information than I need.”

He sounded amused and a bit fatherly. As if he were coming to terms with Maddie moving out of his house to go to college. Connor didn’t understand the dynamic but it worked for them.

He grabbed his coat and gave Maddie a quick kiss on the cheek. That was probably more affection than Evan wanted to see but the kiss wasn’t about him. Nothing would be from now on.

Connor met up with Ben outside of Lela’s clinic. He only knew to come here because he stopped at the Lodge first and Sylvia said he’d just left. The conversation with Evan should have resolved his concerns. The guy he hated had one foot off the island. Great news, but Connor couldn’t help but think he was missing something. The Daria piece was muddled in his head. He had no idea why it was so clear for Evan and hoped Ben could help.

“What are you doing here?” Ben asked as he opened the clinic’s outer doors and motioned for Connor to go first.

“I was out walking and saw you, so I followed.”

“That’s quite the story.” Ben laughed. “Not believable at all.”

“Evan is leaving.” The words still sounded good in Connor’s head but every time they passed through there, he heard a faint alarm bell.

Ben stopped walking and faced him. “Shouldn’t you be celebrating?”

“He’s with Maddie now. They’re saying their goodbyes.”

“That’s . . . unexpected.”

No kidding. “He said with Daria caught he wasn’t needed.”

Ben frowned. “Really?”