Wyatt nced over and said, "Toby just texted me."


    Curtis grabbed the phone, his stern face showing confusion as he read the message, "A wee gift?"


    "Is this a peace offering?" Wyatt wondered aloud, gripping the steering wheel.


    James tapped his slender fingers on his thigh and asked, "What time is it?"


    Wyatt, caught off guard, replied, "Eleven PM," then asked, puzzled, "Does the time have something to do with this message?"


    James shot Wyatt a nce, then turned away and closed his eyes.


    Curtis rolled his eyes at him, "Dork."


    Wyatt: "..."


    Half an hourter, they pulled up into their neighborhood.


    James tossed his jacket onto the couch and walked to the fridge for a bottle of water.


    Heading back to the living room, his eyes scanned the coffee table where his phoney. He bent down and picked it up slowly.


    A few taps revealed several notifications on Messenger.


    He quickly spotted the message from Mirabe sent two hours ago.


    James''s eyebrows lifted, his fingers paused, but he didn''t reply. Instead, he turned off the phone screen.


    It''s past a little kid''s bedtime.


    **


    The next day.


    As usual, Mirabe got up early, nced at her phone on the table, and then walked to her closet to grab her workout gear.


    She stepped out and soon was jogging along thekeside path.


    There weren''t many others out this early, just a few regrs she recognized.


    After severalps, Mirabe slowed down, her fair cheeks flushed from exercise, yet her breathing remained steady.


    Checking the time on her wristwatch, she started walking home.


    The cool breeze tousled her hair, and sensing a presence, Mirabe squinted and stepped aside, "You? What are you doing here?"


    She was slightly taken aback upon seeing James, but quickly regained herposure.


    James, whose hand had been about to rest on Mirabe''s shoulder, let it fall naturally. Taming his surprise, he simply said, "Just keeping fit."


    Mirabe gave him a look then continued towards home, "Well, carry on. I''m off."


    James trailed behind her, his gaze fixed ahead, "I was outst night, left my phone at home."


    Without pausing, Mirabe hummed in acknowledgment.


    Walking beside her now, James asked, "So, what did you need help withst night?"


    After a moment''s thought, Mirabe turned to him, "I needed some herbs."


    Upon hearing this, James didn''t hesitate, "Yeah, just list them for meter."


    Mirabe slowed, a hint of embarrassment on her face, "...Some might be quite rare and hard to find."


    James''s lips twitched at the word ''rare.'' It probably wasn''t just hard to find, but expensive too.


    He cleared his throat and responded, "I''ll try to get them for you, at the lowest cost possible."


    Hearing this, Mirabe''s eyebrows twitched, and she added, "...There might be quite a variety of them, too."


    James looked at her, his eyes deep and understanding, "Yeah, no problem."


    "Thanks in advance, then." Mirabe waved, "I''m heading back."


    With a light step, she entered the Davis family estate.


    James smiled softly, shook his head, and walked back to the neighboring house.