Clara grinned. ‘Hey, at least it’s not boring.’
Rain picked up a piece of bacon, taking a big bite. ‘True. I just wish I knew what to do next.’
Clara took a sip of her coffee, thinking. ‘Well, first things first. We need to find your sister. Everything else can wait.’
Rain looked at her, surprised. ‘We?’
Clara shrugged, smiling. ‘Sure. I mean, if you want my help. I’m pretty good at finding people who don’t want to be found.’
Rain felt a flicker of hope. ‘You’d really do that? Help me?’
‘Of course,’ Clara said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ‘What are friends for?’
Friends. The word caught Rain off guard. She hadn’t had a real friend in . . . well, longer than she cared to admit.
‘I . . . thank you,’ she said, her voice thick with emotion. ‘That means a lot.’
Clara waved a hand dismissively. ‘Don’t mention it. Now, eat up. We’ve got a lot of work to do.’
Rain dug into her food, suddenly ravenous. As she ate, she stole glances at Clara, wondering what she’d done to deserve this kind of kindness from a virtual stranger.
Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up. After the past few days she’d had, Rain figured she was due for a little bit of good fortune.
And if that good fortune came in the form of a kind-hearted woman who made a killer full English breakfast, Rain wasn’t about to complain.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lauren glanced at her watch for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, her anticipation building with each passing minute. She’d memorised Rain’s schedule, knowing precisely when she’d arrive. Ten o’clock. Just five more minutes to wait.
If I time it right and leave now, I can catch her before her shift starts, she thought, a flutter of excitement in her chest.
The lift dinged, and the doors slid open, revealing Sydney already inside.
‘Going somewhere?’ Sydney asked, stepping out, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. ‘I was just coming to see you.’
‘Can it wait?’
‘Sure. Where are you off to in such a hurry?’ Sydney laughed. ‘Oh, let me guess . . .’
‘I’ll catch up with you later,’ Lauren said, brushing past her and into the lift, jabbing the button for the basement.
‘All this star-crossed lover’s stuff is soooo cute,’ Sydney said, laughing just as the doors closed.
By the time Lauren made it to the storeroom, Rain was already there, methodically checking the products on her cleaning trolley. Even from a short distance, Lauren could see a weariness etched on her face.
‘Hey, you okay?’ Lauren said as she neared.
Rain looked up, surprise flickering across her features. ‘Yeah, I’m good,’ she replied, but the tiredness in her voice betrayed her.
‘You don’t look it.’
‘Honestly, I’m fine.’ Rain looked at her sheepishly. ‘Listen, about yesterday, I shouldn’t have just shown up like that.’
Lauren shook her head, quick to reassure her. ‘It’s all right—’
‘No, it’s not. I could’ve caused trouble for you—’
‘Rain, seriously, it’s fine. You didn’t do anything wrong.’
‘You sure?’
‘Positive.’ Lauren paused, a sudden idea taking root in her mind. ‘You know how I said I’m not impulsive?’
‘Yeah?’ Rain said, looking confused.
‘I lied.’
Before Rain could respond, Lauren grabbed the cleaning trolley and pushed it back into the storeroom, her heart racing with the thrill of spontaneity.
‘Hey, what are you doing?’
‘Being impulsive. Come on, let’s get out of here.’
‘What? I can’t just leave.’
‘Yes, you can. Don’t worry, I’ll let Mr Larkins know you’re with me.’
Lauren grabbed Rain’s hand, leading her to the underground car park. Once they were inside her car, Rain turned to her.
