2. TWO

twoAten-minute walk later, the five of us were settling into a booth while Linda rattled off her order to the waitress without stopping to look at the menu once.

It turns out she and my father were frequent visitors.

“How about you, hon?” the waitress asked when it got to my turn.

“Just coffee, please.”

“You’re not eating, Aunt Aileen?” Linda looked flabbergasted at the idea someone would forgo the sugary goodness that was her obsession. “You have to. These are the best pancakes in Columbus. Maybe even the world. They’re soft and fluffy. When you get blueberries in them, they are so tasty.”

“Sorry, sprout,” I said, ignoring the concern on Jenna and my dad’s faces. “I didn’t know you were being rewarded with such awesomeness when I ate dinner earlier. If I tried to stuff my face with as much food as you just ordered, my stomach would pop like a balloon.”

My answer surprised a giggle out of my niece. Jenna smiled and poked her daughter, making her laugh harder as my dad stretched an arm across the back of their booth. It seemed they’d bought my lie. A relief since not too long ago they’d been convinced I had a drinking problem.

The ironic part was that I did, in fact, have a drinking problem. Just not the way they thought.

Connor closed his menu and handed it to the waitress. “I’ll have the cinnamon triple stack with a side of bacon and ham.”

I blinked rapidly, sure I hadn’t heard that right. “You’ll what now?”

Connor had the same limitations I did. While vampires could eat food in moderation, they mostly didn’t because of the damage it could do to our systems. In simple terms, food acted like an allergen, the resulting inflammation affecting us in unexpected ways.

In severe cases, it could lead to devolution—which was the path I was on until Thomas intervened. It was also why I couldn’t have any food at all.

It was too bad. I’d once loved food more than air. Not being able to taste my favorites was like having a limb removed. I missed it so much.

The confusion on my families’ faces had me backtracking. “I mean—are you sure? Your dinner was bigger than mine. How are you going to fit all that food in your stomach?”

“I’m older than you. I can handle it.”

This little shit. He’d just played the age card with me. I let him join one family outing and he was already roasting me in the best of sibling traditions.

Jenna ducked her head to hide her reaction. She wasn’t quite successful as several snorts escaped her. My dad lifted his cup of coffee to hide his smile.

Traitors. The both of them.

Linda’s eyes got very big with excitement. “Does this mean I get to eat more when I’m as old as you?”

“It does.”

Linda kicked her feet and bounced in her seat. “I can’t wait. I have so many plans.”

Sadly, my niece would have a longer wait than she expected since Connor had been alive for centuries.

While our order was being prepared, Linda told us everything we needed to know about how school was going. From what Mrs. Pax, her second-grade teacher, wore on each day of the week—apparently themes were involved. How Linda was really looking forward to Monday since she planned to wear the same thing as her teacher. To the complete anatomy of the social hierarchy in her class.

News flash—Linda was at the center of it all.

Jenna and I shared a look of bafflement, our thoughts following a similar vein.

Linda was her own little person. I could see elements of her mother in her. Traits from her grandma and grandpa as well. Then there was this whole other side that made me wonder where it came from.

While Jenna had aways been part of the more popular crowd in school, unlike me who’d been content to float around the edges, she’d also been a bit of a pushover. Linda sounded more like someone willing to throw down for a fight.

Maybe that was my influence. Or maybe it came from her father. A man whose name no one knew—except Jenna.

Either way, it was a joy to see the person she was becoming.

By the time our food arrived, Linda had moved on to describing her summer plans which involved an outdoor adventure I was pretty sure hadn’t been run by her mom.

“Here we are.” The waitress set a plate down in front of Linda. “One blueberry stack with extra powdered sugar.”

Linda licked her lips at the sight of the three kid size pancakes stacked on top of each other.

The waitress set the next plate in front of Jenna. “One lemon ricotta pancake; hold the sugar.”

Jenna smiled in thanks.

“And a farmer’s special for the gentleman.” The waitress winked at my dad as she gave him his plate before setting the remaining mountain of pancakes in front of Connor. “And last but not least, the triple deck cinnamon burst pancakes for the other gentleman.”

Triple the size of Linda’s stack, it looked like there were enough pancakes on Connor’s plate to feed the whole table.

“Wow,” Linda breathed in amazement, eyeing Connor’s pancakes with envy.

“Focus on your own plate, Miss,” Jenna warned.

“But—”

“Eat your pancakes.”

Linda’s sigh was way more world weary than any seven-year-old had the right to be. With a shrug, she dug into her pancakes, the first bite making her forget she’d ever coveted Connor’s.

While Jenna and my dad picked up their forks, Connor studied his stack with an intensity reserved for the strange and unusual.

I pretended to sip at my coffee as I eyed his sugary goodness, wanting nothing more than to take it off his hands. Cinnamon. Yum. I loved cinnamon. I loved pancakes too.

Why couldn’t I have been bitten by a werewolf instead of a vampire? At least then I could enjoy all the food I wanted. Instead, I got blood. Yummy blood, but still.

“Regret not ordering?” Jenna quirked an eyebrow at me.

I slumped into my seat, not bothering to pretend. She’d know anyways.

“She can’t.” Connor poked a pancake with a fork. “She’s on a specialized diet for her health.”

That caught the adults’ attention. Jenna and Dad paused in their meal, focusing on Connor.

Jenna sent a quick look at Dad, a silent communication taking place between them in the space of a heartbeat.

Dad lifted his mug to take a sip of his coffee, allowing Jenna to take the lead. There was a vigilance in the way he eyed Connor and me over the rim of his cup that said he cared more about what was being said than he was letting on. We had his full attention.

“Is this about the illness you mentioned when Linda was in the hospital?” Jenna asked, trying and failing to feign nonchalance. The slow and deliberate way she cut her pancakes was what gave her away. Like my dad, she was wholly absorbed in the conversation even while being careful not to appear too eager.

I sent Connor a sidelong look, blaming him for this. As long as we didn’t bring up the subject, they’d been content to pretend it wasn’t there.

That no longer applied.

Connor didn’t notice my disgruntlement, carefully watching the way Jenna was cutting her pancakes before following suit.

I guess it was up to me to think of a good excuse.

“You could say that.” I fiddled with the handle of my mug, drawing my dad’s attention. Knowing fidgeting was a sign of nerves, I put my hands in my lap and smiled at them. “The doctors think a more restrictive diet will help reduce inflammation which might make my illness easier to treat.”

My dad set his coffee cup on the table. “Is it serious? This illness?”

The concern in his face made me pause. It held a mixture of love and worry. Behind it all was a fear that things were more serious than I was letting on.

No parent wanted to hear their child was sick. They wanted to see them suffer even less. My dad was no different.

I reached out and took his hand, noting how warm it was compared to mine. “I won’t die from this.”

Dad’s eyes were rimmed with red as he looked down at the table.

“But I won’t be able to live the same way I did before.” I squeezed his hand in reassurance, my eyes smarting when I felt his return squeeze. It felt like I was a little girl again, finding comfort in her dad’s presence. The one who’d believed everything would be okay as long as he was there.

“As long as you’re healthy. That’s all that matters.” Dad sounded gruff as he picked up his coffee again.

Jenna and I pretended not to see the sheen in his eyes as he turned his face toward the window.

“If you can’t have pancakes, what can you eat?” Syrup was smeared on my niece’s lips and chin. A few spots on her jacket glistened where it had dripped.

“Blood and nightmares.” Connor stuffed a bite of pancake in his mouth.

Linda’s nose wrinkled. “Eww. Does that mean you’re a vampire?”

“Yes, and I’ve come to suck your blood.” I curled my fingers into claws and reached for Linda.

She shrieked and backed away laughing.

“Okay, okay.” Jenna blocked her daughter’s flailing hand when it almost hit her in the face. A second later, she removed the fork with a speared piece of pancake from Linda’s hand and set it on the plate. “Enough playing around, before you hurt someone.”

“Sorry, Mommy.” Linda didn’t resist as Jenna took her hands to clean the syrup off them.

While Jenna was preoccupied with her daughter, I rested my head on my hand to watch Connor eat. “How is your first time eating pancakes?”

Linda stared at Connor with her mouth open. “You’ve never had pancakes before?”

“No.”

“How is that possible?” Linda gasped. “Pancakes are the best. They are everything.”

Linda wasn’t the only one surprised; Dad and Jenna stared at him in confusion.

“They don’t have them where I’m from.” Connor tucked another bite into his mouth and chewed, unconcerned by their reactions.

From his expression, it was hard to tell if he was enjoying the pancakes or not.

“Where is that?” Jenna asked, quick to seize the opportunity to learn a little more about the person I’d introduced into our circle.

“Ireland,” I answered before Connor could.

Part of me feared he’d mention the Fae land where he’d spent his last few centuries. It was best to cut him off before that could happen.

Dad still looked suspicious, but he didn’t press.

White hot agony pierced my mind. I clutched at my head as a whimper escaped from between clenched teeth.

“Aileen? Aileen!”

“What’s wrong with her?”

Dad and Jenna’s frightened expressions registered, but I was too busy trying to ride the wave of pain swamping my senses to reassure them.

Connor grabbed my shoulders, lowering me until I was lying on the bench.

The pain receded a tiny bit, still there but not as overwhelming.

From a distance, I could hear Dad’s raised voice and Jenna trying to calm Linda down.

A voice boomed in my mind. Childe.

As quickly as it had come, the pain vanished. It became nothing more than a hazy memory as my mind tried to convince itself that someone wasn’t just digging their fingers into a place where they didn’t belong.

What the fuck was that?

As if the situation wasn’t embarrassing enough, liquid started to drip out of my nose and onto my upper lip as I forced myself up to sitting.

Blood. That’s just great.

“Oh my God, Aileen.” Jenna grabbed napkins from the dispenser. Two thirds of them ripped. That didn’t stop her. She yanked one after another out until she had a large pile she could then shove in my direction. “You have a nose bleed.”

I took the napkins and pressed them against my nose, wishing I was alone with Connor so I could ask him what the hell was going on.

“You okay?” Connor asked.

“Let me get back to you on that.”

I wasn’t sure what I was feeling right now. Angry, certainly. A little scared. Maybe a lot scared. And about every emotion in between.

A person’s mind was supposed to be sacrosanct. Mine wasn’t. And that was terrifying.

Connor’s focus turned inward, his expression remote.

I didn’t take his withdrawal personally. This wasn’t good. Someone with power of this nature could have turned my mind into Swiss cheese. Worse—I had no idea how to keep the invasion from happening again.

Seeing the concern on my family’s faces, I lowered the wad of now bloody napkins to give them a reassuring smile. “Sorry about this.”

Jenna’s tiny flinch made me cover my lips with the napkins again. Maybe smiling wasn’t such a good idea after all.

My dad’s face expression looked like it had been chiseled out of granite.

Linda was the only one to show appreciation, mouthing a silent, “Cool.”

Way to go, self. Stellar job appearing normal and well adjusted.

“You don’t have to apologize.” My dad nudged Jenna’s shoulder, nodding for her to scoot out of the booth. “But I think it’s best if we take you to a hospital to get checked out.”

Linda, sensing her time was limited, shoveled several bites of pancake into her mouth as she shuffled sideways. Reaching the end of the table, she hovered over her food for those last few bites.

“That’s not necessary, Dad,” I protested.

A visit to the hospital was the last thing I needed. I wasn’t sure how much human technology could glean from our blood, but I didn’t want to chance it. Even with Thomas’s people seeded within the phlebotomy labs, there was no reason to be reckless.

There weren’t a lot of universal rules in the spook world, but not giving humans evidence of our existence was a big one.

Besides, Dad and Jenna would probably find it suspicious when the doctors had never heard of what I had.

I needed an excuse. A good one. Preferably one my family could accept.

“I think it’s very necessary,” Dad said in his dad voice.

That particular tone had always let me know when a situation wasn’t up for discussion.

Unfortunately, the threat of punishment no longer worked on me. I wasn’t afraid of a grounding or missing dessert. Dad and Jenna couldn’t afford for me to be nice about this.

“I promise you, it’s nothing,” I assured him. “This is a possible side effect of the medicine I’m on. An unexpected one with how well I’ve been doing until now.”

Wow. This time I almost believed that. My ability to tell lies had evolved a long way from my teen years.

Too bad Dad didn’t look convinced. Jenna, either.

The stubbornness I saw in their faces made it clear they weren’t going to let this go.

In their place, I wouldn’t either. I would have fought to ensure they got the necessary care for whatever mysterious illness they had—whether they shared the name of the illness or not.

I was going to have to be mean to get them to back off. It would probably undo all the work I’d done until now.

And yet I was going to do it to save them from something worse down the line.

Connor set his fork down and patted his lips with the napkin. “You do not need to worry. I will call our personal physician to attend to her when we reach home. He is familiar with her situation and will know what steps need to be taken.”

My dad’s expression loosened. He knew me too well and had been braced for a fight.

That made me hate myself. Just a little.

Dad had always been my safe harbor. My mom and I always clashed, but he’d been my rock.

I wish I was the daughter he deserved. Not this person filled with secrets. Not someone he had to protect himself from.

Connor rose, bowing his head to my father in respect. “I regret that this means we will need to take our leave.”

Next to him, I felt like a lumbering monster as I fought my way out of the booth.

I made sure to take the bloody napkins with me. After what just happened, I didn’t want to chance any piece of me falling into the wrong hands.

Blood was an important ingredient in some spells. It was an easy way to get cursed.

Now that I was thinking about it, many of my enemies were witches. Or at least versed in spell work. I’d have to check to see if there had ever been an opportunity for someone to obtain a sample of my blood.

My dad returned Connor’s bow with a nod before heading toward the waitress to ask for the check.

Connor’s expression turned morose.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Connor was the master of the micro expression. A beautiful work of art that was impossible to know the heart of unless he told you. It took a lot to make him show anything on that face of his.

“I had hoped to pay.” Connor’s frown held a touch of pouting. “From what I read, paying is a way to leave a good impression on prospective fathers.”

“I’m pretty sure you understood that wrong,” I said, fighting a smirk. Connor clearly didn’t understand the difference between a father vs a prospective father-in-law.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded and patted his shoulder. “Yup.”

“Let Dad pay,” Jenna interjected. “It’s his way of welcoming you to the family now that you’re Aileen’s brother and all.”

I was the only one who caught Jenna’s sarcasm. It went right over Connor’s head as he nodded, accepting her words at face value.

“I see,” he said, sounding serious. “I will accept his good intentions then.”

Jenna’s teeth dented her lower lip, her eyes alight with a mirth I hadn’t seen in a long time.

Linda looked up at Connor. “Does this mean you’re my uncle now?”

Jenna’s expression softened, her teasing fading as she smoothed Linda’s hair away from her face.

I sometimes forgot because of how good a mom Jenna was that Linda didn’t have a lot of positive male role models in her life. As a result, she tended to glom onto any man who came into her orbit.

It was one of the reasons Jenna had hesitated to introduce any of the men she’d dated to Linda. She didn’t want Linda getting attached only for the relationship to end.

It showed how much Connor’s actions had won Jenna’s approval if she wasn’t trying to head Linda off at the pass.

A warm feeling filled my center. It was kind of nice watching two important people in my life get along.

Connor gave Linda’s question serious thought. “I suppose that wouldn’t be wrong.”

I shook my head in amused resignation before herding the other three toward the exit. My dad would follow when he finished paying the bill.

Linda and Jenna were giggling together as Connor and I brought up the rear.

Their abrupt stop a second later caused me to nearly bump into their backs. It took several quick side shuffles to avoid running them over.

Only after that did I understand the reason for their sudden caution.

A black Escalade was parked in the no parking zone directly in front of the restaurant. By itself, that wouldn’t be alarming. It was the man leaning against its side like a grim specter of death that was the problem.

Dressed all in black and looking about as approachable as an assassin, he was obviously waiting for us.

“What are you doing here, Nathan?” I asked with a scowl.

An enforcer for the Master of the City, Nathan possessed an easy charisma that many found disarming. They never saw what lay beyond that deceptive charm.

As flirtatious as he seemed, Nathan was a stone-cold killer. A psycho, just like the rest of them. Even if he hid it better.

It was what made him so good at what he did; no one ever saw him coming.

His gaze sharpened as he pushed off the SUV and stalked toward me. Jenna pulled Linda behind her as he caught my chin and tilted it upward for a better look.

“What happened to you?”

I slapped his hand off my face. Nathan let me.

“Nothing.”

He set his hands on his hips, looking angry. “You had a bloody nose.”

I covered my face, feeling self-conscious. I thought I’d gotten all the blood off before we left the restaurant. Though I guess not well enough to fool a vampire.

“I’ll tell you about it later,” I said, waving away his concern. This wasn’t the place to get into it. Not with my sister and niece standing a few feet away.

Nathan let me dodge the question. For now, anyways. His steady gaze made it clear that wouldn’t last, though.

“Are you going to answer my earlier question?” I asked, changing the subject.

“To pick you up, of course. Did you forget what day it was?”

I searched my memory. Would it be bad if I said yes?

“You did forget!”

The pitch of Nathan’s voice made it difficult to determine if he was delighted or scandalized by that knowledge.

His gaze swung toward Connor. “Don’t tell me you did too.”

The deer in headlights expression on his face made Nathan let out a mocking laugh.

“Thomas must be going crazy by now.” Nathan shook his finger at the two of us. “I’m surprised he hasn’t been blowing up your phones demanding to know where you are.”

The guilty expression on both our faces gave us away.

Nathan’s eyes widened before he snickered. “No wonder I was sent.”

Oh. I think I remembered now.

“The quarterly meet and greet,” I whispered. “That’s tonight?”

Nathan snapped his fingers and pointed at me. “Got it in one.”

Connor and I shared similar looks of dread.

“I forgot,” I whispered. Connor too, it seemed.

In establishing our own House, we, because there was no way I was venturing into that shark tank alone, were required to attend formal functions as part of our new roles. I was the House head and Connor was my right hand.

The meet and greet tonight was a quarterly meeting for the Clans and Houses in the city and nearby areas. Our presence was expected—and required.

Thomas had told me several weeks ago, but I’d promptly put it out of my mind.

“That is clear,” Nathan drawled, his gaze shifting toward my dad as he joined us outside.

“Who’s this?” Dad asked.

I glared at Nathan. He’d better be on his best behavior around my family. I might not be able to make him physically regret crossing me, but I bet Connor could.

“He seems to be Aileen’s friend,” Jenna volunteered, acting less than certain as she picked up on my tension.

“Actually, I’m her boss.”

I blew a raspberry. “As if. More like a minion.”

Nathan held his hands to his chest in mock hurt. “Is that how you see me after all this time?”

“Keep going. See how much further I can reduce your status.”

Knowing I’d do exactly as I said, Nathan cut his losses, instead focusing on my niece. “Are you the little ballerina I’ve heard so much about?”

Linda blinked up at him in surprise. “How did you know?”

“One ballet aficionado recognizes the next.”

“Really?”

Linda’s face lit up at the prospect of someone else, an adult no less, sharing her favorite hobby.

In answer, Nathan executed an embôité before transitioning into a pirouette that had Linda clapping.

She bounced forward on her toes. “You’re so good.”

He definitely was. Watching him was like seeing poetry in motion. Each movement as graceful and perfect as the last.

Nathan quirked an eyebrow at my expression. “Surprised?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the one who taught me swing dancing.”

I didn’t find it strange that he knew other forms of dance as well. Especially given his level of talent in it.

Nathan offered my sister his hand. “You must be Ms. Grumpy’s sister.”

“That’s an apt description of her,” Jenna said with a smile.

“Was she always like this?” Nathan asked.

“From the day she was born,” Dad answered.

Nathan peeked in my direction, his playful grin making it clear he was having fun at my expense. “I’m sure you two have a lot of stories I can use to torture Aileen with later.”

Jenna nodded, her expression as gleeful as her daughter’s had been earlier. “We do.”

“That’s enough of that, minion. It’s time to be on our way.” I stepped between the two before any further damage could be done.

“Afraid, Lena?” Jenna teased.

“About Nathan learning my secrets—yes.”

Unequivocally so. The man was a terror. No way did I want stories of my childhood falling into his hands.

“You don’t trust me, A?”

I narrowed my eyes at the enforcer. “Not even a little bit.”

At least not when it came to this. My life, on the other hand, was a different story. Nathan was one of the few I trusted at my back.

“I guess I can understand that,” he murmured, not seeming too put out at my caution.

“That’s mighty big of you, minion.”

Nathan gestured to the car. “Now that that’s settled, shall we?”

I didn’t move. “There’s no need. I parked not far from here. We’ll meet you there.”

Nathan shook his head. “No can do, A. My orders are clear. You and Connor in this vehicle.”

“I’m not leaving Gwyneth here overnight.”

“No need. I already arranged to have your car picked up and taken home.”

A throaty rumble came from the end of the street as a Jaguar F-Type roared into view. The exterior was a distinctive burnt umber that I had only seen once. On my car.

“Tell me you didn’t,” I growled.

“I kind of did.”

The Jaguar passed us, giving me a glimpse of the driver as he gunned the engine.

“Anton—that’s who you let drive Gwyneth?”

That’s who he trusted my precious to?

“Gwyneth?” Jenna repeated to herself, sounding confused.

“It would appear so.”

I stomped toward the curb. “Not a scratch, Anton. Do you hear me? Not a scratch or I will end you.”

“She knows he can’t hear her, right?” Jenna whispered to Connor.

He could hear me. He’d better pay attention too or retribution would be mine.

I turned and stomped back to Nathan. “You know my rules. Nobody drives the precious but me.”

Nathan shrug was unconcerned. “Next time, show up when you’re supposed to and this won’t be a problem.”

Unbelievable.

“I’m sure this is important, but Aileen needs to bet checked out by a doctor before she does anything else,” my dad said with a stubborn tilt to his jaw.

Nathan’s nod was respectful. “We have one on-site so that won’t be a problem.”

His reassurance did a little to allay my dad’s concern.

“I’ll wait in the car while you say your goodbyes, A.” Nathan slung an arm over Connor’s shoulder, guiding him to the car. “Why don’t you join me?”

Connor pulled open the back door and climbed inside. Nathan shot us a grin before sauntering around the car to the driver’s side.

“Employee of yours?” Jenna asked, looking far too interested in Nathan’s backside for my peace of mind.

“More like contractor. Though after tonight, I’m regretting that.”

If I could, I would have ended any contract between us in a heartbeat for the crime of touching Gwyneth.

“He seems interesting,” Jenna said.

“Trust me—don’t go there.”

As charming as he was, Nathan was a heartbreak waiting to happen. Any relationship between the two was doomed—both because he was a vampire and because he had a short attention span when it came to the opposite sex.

There was no way I’d trust him with my little sister.

“A man like that, I don’t need forever with.” Jenna shoved me playfully with her shoulder, keeping her voice low so her daughter wouldn’t hear. “A few nights would more than suffice.”

Dad pulled the two of us apart with a shake of his head. “Alright, that’s not the kind of thing I want to hear.”

“Me neither, Dad,” I mumbled. More importantly, I wished Nathan wouldn’t have heard that either.

Jenna’s smirk was unrepentant as she lifted a shoulder in a shrug. So glad she was enjoying my second-hand embarrassment.

“Promise me you’ll get that checkup,” Dad said, ignoring his other daughter.

“I will. Nathan and Connor will make sure of it.”

I stepped forward to offer him a hug. His frame seemed to freeze for a split second before his arms came up to hug me back a little harder than usual.

I pretended not to hear the faint catch in his throat.

It made me realize it had been too long since the last time I’d hugged anyone in my family. I’d been too afraid of my strength after my transition. I was worried I’d hurt them or lose control of my blood lust.

His grip gentled as if he suddenly remembered I was “sick”. He was holding me like I was something fragile.

A few seconds later, I ducked my head to hide my wet eyes as I stepped back.

Dad’s swallow was audible as he looked away. “Let me know if there’s anything you need after your talk with the doctor.”

I nodded. “I will.”

Jenna stepped forward to give me a briefer, but no less welcome, hug. “It’s rare we get to see you these days. I was hoping for a little more time.”

“My friends are having a girl’s night tomorrow. You could join us if you want,” I blurted, the words seeming to fall out of my mouth against my wishes.

Say no, I urged mentally, wishing I could take my offer back. Say you can’t get away and have to watch Linda.

Anything but that you’ll come.

“With Caroline?” Jenna asked.

“And others.”

All of them spooks. Friends I’d made over the last few years.

Now that I had time to reconsider, I realized just how bad of an idea it had been to invite Jenna into that dynamic.

Too late to take it back now.

“I’ll be there.”

I faked a smile. “I’ll send the details.”

Happiness shone from every inch of Jenna’s body. “Great.”

Before my big mouth could dig any more holes I couldn’t get myself out of, I headed toward the Escalade. I climbed into the passenger seat, waving once at my family before slamming the door shut.

“Girl’s night, huh?” Nathan asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Nathan started the car. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

“Definitely not.”

But it was happening. God help me.