Jayden nodded, but her gaze drifted back to me. A flicker of something—guilt, maybe, or longing—crossed her face. I couldn't resist.
I reached back without looking, gave Stella's ass a firm, playful pat, and helped her settle into the chair beside us. Stella let out a soft, satisfied hum, clearly loving the attention.
My gaze kept dragging back to Jayden. The guilt twisted in my chest like a blade. I had pulled her out of Mexico, then vanished without a word and disappeared into Japan. The memory burned hotter every time I looked at her.
I stood up slowly, voice rough. "Jayden… how have you been?"
"I'm good," she answered quietly, forcing a small smile. "Everything's been fine, actually. Ma'am Julie and the others have taken really good care of me. They… they made sure I had everything I needed." Her eyes met mine for a split second, then dropped to her lap. "It's just… different here. New place. New faces."
