Chapter 99: One Less Battle
The evening air in Florittle was heavy with the scent of blooming jacarandas as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in soft hues of orange and purple.
Stefan stepped off the plane, his sunglasses tucked away, the fatigue from the long flight etched on his face. His heart pounded harder the moment his shoes touched solid ground. He was here—for her. For Ruby.
He sighed. Being here was one thing but finding her was another. Where could she be in this vast city of Florittle? He mused as he looked around.
Scanning the arrivals area, he spotted Ethan standing near a pillar, dressed casually in jeans and a grey T-shirt, waving a little too enthusiastically.
A faint smile tugged at Stefan’s lips. He hadn’t realized how much he missed Ethan’s annoying energy until now.
"Finally," Ethan said, pulling Stefan into a quick, brotherly hug—the kind men gave when emotions were there but words were hard to find. He gave him a firm pat on the back before stepping back with a grin.
"Look at you. Still brooding like someone ran off with your lunch money."
Stefan chuckled, the sound low and rough. "Don’t start, Ethan. You know why I’m not exactly in the mood for jokes."
Ethan shrugged, lifting Stefan’s duffle bag effortlessly. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. You’re all serious now because you want to find your substitute wife."
Stefan rolled his eyes, letting the corners of his mouth curve into a tired smile. "You’re not wrong and she’s not just a substitute wife for me and no matter how hard I try... I just... I’m not myself. Not until I find her. Not until I know she’s safe."
They started walking toward the parking lot, the hum of voices and distant car engines filling the air between them.
Ethan tossed the bag into the trunk and opened the passenger door for Stefan. "You know what? It’s okay," he said as he got behind the wheel. "I understand. I really do. You don’t have to pretend around me."