Marcie felt her stomach clench up with nerves as she approached the office. What would Kaden say to her? He was radiating his discomfort and unhappiness, and gods, she was out of her depth. She felt her heart beating quickly as she opened the door and stepped inside.
She didn't try to smile as she closed the door. This wasn't a situation where you tried to paper over things and pretend they were okay. She also didn't try to sit close to Kaden at all, instead finding the desk chair and sitting down on that. Looking down at her hands, she took a few calming breaths, and then glanced up at him.
Oh Kaden. He looked so lost and young, despite the physical growth he'd been through in the last few months. He was a bit taller, a tiny bit broader in the shoulder (and Tragos would never see his little brother grow up, but it was because of him that Kaden had gotten away, had a head start in their insane scheme that may have been enough to keep him alive until Hecate could find him.) Marcie pressed her lips together, her hands clenched in her lap. She wanted to make things right somehow, but it was so hard.
Finally, she swallowed, and took a breath.
"I'm sorry. I never should have hit you," she said, her voice sounding surprisingly more confident than she felt. "It wasn't the right way to deal with things. I'm sorry I shouted. I just... I'm sorry."