"You are making this sound more serious than it felt," she said carefully. "It seemed very innocent. Just a guardian attending a parents' meeting."
Gabriel looked at her, and for a moment he seemed to be weighing how much to say, how much to share.
"Sir Santo is not the type to move without reason," he said finally. "If he is involving himself with Boo, there is a reason. A specific reason. He does not do anything casually."
Alina swallowed softly.
"A bad reason?" she asked, her voice smaller than she intended.
"I do not know," Gabriel admitted. "That is what bothers me. I cannot think of any good reason for someone like him to attach himself to someone like Boo."
Silence settled between them.
The cheerful noise from earlier seemed very far away now, replaced by a heavy stillness.
Alina leaned back again, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts turning slowly.
