𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 // 𝗖.𝗙

𝖧 𝖤 𝖠 𝖱 𝖳

BACK IN the confines of the car, Sylvia's hand instinctively presses against her aching stomach, a subtle wince betraying the throbbing in her head.

She was no stranger to this discomfort, a familiar consequence of her own neglect.

Since that strained dinner with her family, food had been a forgotten luxury.

Sylvia knew the repercussions of her neglect all too well.

When meals were skipped, as they often were, nausea would creep in, and her stomach would stage its rebellion.

Her only hope was to conceal her body's protest until they found Conrad, a secret battle fought in silence.

But hope, it seemed, was not on her side.

A loud, embarrassing rumble echoes from her abdomen, shattering the quiet of the car.

She recoils slightly, her cheeks flushing as both Beau and Jeremiah turn their attention to her.

Jeremiah's eyes widen in realization. "Was—was that your stomach?"

Beau's voice was laced with a familiar scolding. "You didn't eat?"

Sylvia couldn't help but roll her eyes, a defense mechanism kicking in. "Obviously not. The last thing I had was dinner with Steven and them. Then just hot chocolate this morning. That's it. I'm hungry, okay?"

"You're such a kid." Beau chuckles, though his tone was tinged with concern. "If no one tells you to eat, you just won't."

"I forget, okay?" Sylvia retorts, throwing her hands up in mock surrender.

"You forget?" Jeremiah repeats, shaking his head with a soft smile. "It doesn't matter now. Lucky for you, we're almost to Pie."

Sylvia's face lit up, a genuine smile breaking through her discomfort.

Leaning forward between the two front seats, she fixed Jeremiah with an eager gaze. "Rosie's? Are you serious?"

Jeremiah grins, matching her enthusiasm. "So, is that a yes?"

"Don't even think about Conrad." Beau interjects, pointing a warning finger at her.

But Sylvia's focus remains solely on Jeremiah, her smile unwavering. "Of course, it's a yes! Make that stop!"

The thought of Rosie's was a beacon, momentarily eclipsing the weight of their mission.

Jeremiah chuckles, a glint in his eyes as he glances at Sylvia before steering the car off the main road and directly into Rosie's parking lot.

The moment the car came to a stop, Sylvia erupts with a squeal of delight, practically leaping out of the vehicle.

Beau and Jeremiah exchanged amused glances, shaking their heads at her infectious enthusiasm.

"She's such a kid." Jeremiah says, a fond smile playing on his lips as he turns to Beau.

"Cousins and food have that effect on her." Beau replies with a shrug, his eyes twinkling with amusement as they follow Sylvia toward the quaint little cabin that housed Rosie's pie bakery and flower shop.

Sylvia's eyes dance over the menu displayed in the window, though she hardly needed it.

She waits for Jeremiah and Beau to catch up before rattling off her order. "I'm getting a mini apple pie for now, a regular blueberry one to go, and a cherry one for Beau."

"So predictable." Jeremiah teases, rolling his eyes playfully.

"So are you." Sylvia retorts, feigning a thoughtful expression. "You're not going to get pie because you don't want to ruin your abs and you hate how sweet they are, but you're going to sneak bites of mine and Beau's anyway."