Chapter 16

Sixteen

The second football game I attended was much less eventful than the first—always a blessing. And this time, we waited for Thomas to leave the field before we piled into Johnny's truck (the only vehicle of our five that fit us all comfortably) and went back to their place. It was strange how… whole the group felt.

Like something wasn't right when I was with only three of them…

One at a time wasn't strange, but two or three… I didn't like it.

"What," Joshua asks as he helps me out of my coat. "Are you frowning about? That expression should be outlawed in this house."

"Nothing important."

Thomas already has his coat off and has dropped to the floor and is unlacing my boots. "It's movie time."

"Is it?"

He nods and it's Chase who steps in to steady me as I lift one foot and then the other, and Thomas sets my shoes in among theirs.

But when they lead me to the livingroom and we pile onto the couch, he puts on an old sci-fi flick from the early eighties that I'd bet we've all seen at least twice.

Joshua's the one who pulls me onto his lap, but Thomas lifts my feet into his.

Thumb digging into my sole, Thomas' eyes are on the screen, but I imagine he's paying as much attention to the surface of mars as I am.

Joshua's lips on my neck are a little too distracting

But when I turn to try to take those lips, Joshua shakes his head and with a single finger turns my face away.

"We need some head space if we're going to get anywhere but the bedroom, little witch."

But he doesn't stop kissing me. "This isn't distracting?"

He chuckles but doesn't stop and Thomas lifts one of my feet, kissing the top of it. "We're more likely to get through a conversation if we're all wearing clothes."

"We're all more likely to talk if we keep our hands to ourselves." Johnny drags me away from them, settling me between him and Chase. I'm squashed between them, but I don't mind.

Thomas finds his way onto the floor in front of me, and Joshua lets go of a sigh, flicking the TV off.

"What," Chase said, stretching—it oddly didn't feel like an intentionally cheesy "move"—and slinging his arm over me. "Are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

"I'm not. We've never celebrated it, and as the years have gone on, it's been increasingly clear that the intended reasons for celebrating aren't worth praising, anyway." I drop my head to his shoulder. "What about you guys?"

"We always get out of town, otherwise we get dragged across the lawn and are subject to Mrs. Miller's particular brand of historical white-washing." Chase grimaces.

I lick my lips. "There's something I can think of that would be more delicious than dry old turkey and gravy with too much salt in it."

Thomas perks up. "I know it's short notice, but we could go find some snow. Rent a cabin at Diamond Lake?"

"I'd like to stay closer to home. The witch I mentioned before? She's still throwing off red flags like crazy."

"What kind of red flags?"

"She's too nice—which is a full one eighty from when she was in my mom's coven. And… she has a vampire with her."

"Do we need to be worried?" Joshua asks.

"According to Aphrodite and my mother, no."

"You don't sound convinced."

"With those two here, I don't know what they might get up to."

"Okay… closer to home." Thomas taps his mouth with his finger and then glances at the others. "What about your home? Could we hide out at your place? I know it's a little tight for all of us."

"And there's only enough bed space for 4…"

"We can bring pillows and cushions and turn your living room into a literal love nest." Johnny's suggestion is met by nothing but agreement.

The way they all immediately are down for it makes me think "pillow fort."

"Alright. We'll figure out how to make it work."

My phone buzzes and I slip from the tangle of limbs.

"Ignore it," Johnny says his hand loosely wrapped around my wrist—but he lets go without my having to tug.

"It might be important." I pull the buzzing phone from my bag.

Elaria sent me a cringing emoji and then.

So your secret is out of the bag.

Everyone knows you're banging a were-pack and some of the coven are PISSED.

We've been called in to vote on if you have to come to trial to atone for your sins. I'm voting "nay" btw.

You're welcome.

Thanks. Let me know how it goes.

Will do, Wolf Woman.

I'll probably find out before she has a chance to text me.

Phones and ephemera glass are great ways to get in touch, but if they really don't like what I've done, I'll get to feel it.

The only time I've felt that particular pain was when I decided to get out of the coven. They'd dragged me in to a trial to see if they'd let me go. The answer had, of course been no. but they'd agreed to this strange "satellite" position I now held within the coven.

"Was it important?" Johnny asked, reaching for me.

I dropped my phone on the table and went to them.

"I don't know yet."

They tug me back down to them and Johnny's hand slips up my leg. "Then where were we?"

I don't get to answer.

A bang, so loud it leaves my ears ringing echoes through the house, rattling all of the windows and making the lights flicker.

"What the hell was that?" Johnny pulled me tight to his chest, which is probably a good thing, because the other three shot to their feet and I might have wound up on my ass.

He puts me down and follows after the others, my hand firmly in his.

But out the back door, the guys stand in a staggered line, looking at the silhouette cast by Mrs. Miller as she stands in her doorway, the light spilling out from behind her obscured by smoke.

Joshua has clearly already started questioning her.

"I'm fine, fine dear." She glances back over her shoulder. "I had some apple butter in the pressure cooker. Pretty sure that's all gone now."

Her smile is rueful.

"I knew I needed to replace the thing, It's ancient. I've just been lazy."

It might not snow here with any regularity, but Novembers are cold. In bare feet, without a jacket, I can't help but shiver.

Johnny pulls me close, rubbing at my arms.

That has to be the movement that draws Mrs. Miller's attention. She stops mid sentence and her face shifts into something that should be reserved for the most vile of criminals.

"You," She says with all the deep, spiteful retaliation of a woman wronged. "How dare you show your face in this good Christian community you little harlot?"

The night goes deathly still at that pronouncement and I feel Johnny's grip on me tense. The others are just as shocked, though probably not for the same reason I am.

I'm surprised she spoke her mind in front of them… with the exception of Joshua who witnessed it before, they probably didn't suspect her dislike was so strong.

"You won't drag my boys to hell with you, Harpy."

"That is enough." Joshua's voice is so loud, even I flinch.

It seems to draw Mrs. Miller out of whatever haze had taken he and she shakes her head, blinking as though confused.

"You will not talk to her like that. Or anyone else, for that matter." He crowds her and she walks stiltedly back into the house.

Joshua looks back over his shoulder and grimaces. "I'm going to make me sure nothing is too damaged inside and then, I'll be back."

"What," Johnny says, repeating his earlier question. "the hell was that?"

"That was my biggest fan." I try to force a smile, but I know it doesn't come off right.

Thomas shoulders his way between Johnny and me and picks me up to carry me back into the living room. "Even if she wasn't a righteous bitch, she'd have at least four people ahead of her for that title."

It takes a little while, but Joshua comes back to us.

"Her ‘canning' room is a mess, but even with that thing going off like a rocket, nothing seems like it's going to be too hard to fix. And the window and walls are all intact. That was all I cared about."

I reach for him, dragging him back to us. "Hopefully no other bombs go off. I want your full and undivided attention."