City of Kinetics

TWENTY-FOUR ✴ To Like Someone

       Mila wasn't surprised when she was the last to wake up the next day. She freshened up as quickly as she could in the bathroom and took a shower, something that was long overdue.

       When she went downstairs, she found Leila sitting on the couch in the living room, aimlessly flipping through channels on the TV. Smiling, she walked over to her.

       "Bored?" she asked.

       Leila turned her head to look at her. "Yeah. The cable sucks around here."

       "Where is everyone?"

       "Jason and Ellie went out to get food," she said. "Hunter's in the kitchen."

       Mila ruffled the girl's hair before walking away, heading towards the family room leading to the kitchen. To her surprise, she found Hunter leaning against the kitchen counter with a cup in his hand.

       His ice-blue eyes snapped up towards her when she walked in. She gave him a smile.

       "Morning," she chirped brightly.

       "Morning," he responded back. "Did you sleep okay?"

       The events of last night flashed in her mind as she nodded her head, stopping to lean on the counter beside him.

       "Yeah, you?"

       Hunter took another sip. "As well as I could have. Do you want some coffee?"

       Mila thought about it. "Any cream or sugar?"

       "None," he responded. "Jason and Evelyn went out earlier to get some groceries. They should be back soon."

       Her face scrunched up in distaste. "I'll wait, then."

       There was a ghost of a smile on his face as he took another sip of his black coffee, clearly not bothered by its bitter taste.

       "There's no milk but there's some cereal," he offered.

       Mila glanced towards the kitchen. "Where?"

       Hunter set his cup down on the counter and moved to open one of the cabinets on his left, pulling out a box. He held it out to show her and her smile brightened.

       "This should tide me over until the real food comes," she said as she grabbed the box. "Thanks."

       "Leila had some earlier. Said something about them tasting like cardboard," Hunter said.

       Mila put some on in her mouth, chewing before grimacing.

       "They're alright," she said. "Leila wasn't wrong."

       Hunter watched in amusement as she still took more, chewing on the bits of cereal without a care.

       "Any word from your co-worker?" Mila asked.

       "Bowen?" Hunter said. "Not yet."

       "Should we call him?"

       He shook his head. "I already did this morning. Gave him some details on the diner and some possible witnesses that could corroborate our story. He said he'd call once he got something."

       This worried Mila, but she reminded herself that it had been less than a day since Hunter had asked him to find incriminating evidence on Kane. She knew it would take some time, but she had hoped it would be quick.