Page 64 of Companion Required
Nothing could placate Kieran. He’d spent the whole three days wanting Kennedy by his side, and now, finally, the man had arrived back in Hong Kong just as they were about to depart for Bali.
“If he’s not here, I’m not getting on the—”
“Here he is now,” said Laurie, pointing past Kieran.
Kieran turned and his heart gave a lurch, a grin forming on his face. As Kennedy approached, Kieran could not help noticing the small smile appear on his tired face. Wearing his travel attire—baggy and creased beige chinos and a wrinkled Indian cotton shirt—he still looked good enough to eat. He had only a carry-on bag with him, all he had taken to Los Angeles. Kieran had checked in the rest of their luggage. When Kennedy reached them, he first gave the girls a quick hug then came over to Kieran and hugged him tightly.
“I really missed you,” said Kieran.
Kennedy said nothing in return. Maybe he still felt tired, but Kieran wondered if there might be something more to his distance.
Steph hustled them onto the plane, both girls being stopped as they boarded, something beeping on the scanning machine, and both being told that they had been upgraded. All of them would be together in business class. Kieran knew Kennedy had somehow worked his magic. As they marched down the ramp towards the plane door, once again Kieran noticed him focusing ahead, avoiding eye contact. While the girls went ahead, he put his hand on Kennedy’s arm and stopped him.
“Are you okay, Kennedy? Did everything go to plan in LA?” asked Kieran.
“No,” said Kennedy, a strained expression on his face, one Kieran had not seen before. “Everything did not go to plan. Everything did not go to plan at all. But I’ll explain later, once I’ve had time to rest.”
