21. Miranda

I slowly awaken.I know I'm in my bed, alone, like I've always been, but I shouldn't be. Declan should be next to me, holding me, loving me. I know last night wasn't a dream and today was a nightmare, but maybe it will get better. Stretching, I get out of bed and walk to the window. I slept two hours, but I can easily sleep another six and it still won't be enough.

There's movement in the woods and I realize it is my friends. I know the moose is Stone. I assume the cougar is Liam because Kendall hates the cold, and she wouldn't be out running in January. The wolves must be Declan, Sophie, and Trevor. I've never seen any of them in their wolf forms, but I know them. The dark gray wolf must be Trevor, and the one with more silvery fur must be Sophie. Of course, my friend would be sparkly. The beautiful black wolf, bigger than the others, has to be Declan. His muscles bunch and flex as he runs, his tail flowing behind him like a flag. I wonder if his eyes are blue like they are when he is his unicorn. A unicorn. I can't believe for all these years I was called a liar when every word I said was the truth. No one stood up for me. Or told me I was a witch. My mother is a witch and never told me. Why? Does my father know? Does he care? Horses are all he cares about. He only noticed me was if I was on the back of one, and then it was still all about the horse.

How could I have spent all these years with no clue to my powers? I was not turning people into their animals. No making things levitate, no telling the future. If I have powers, they are the most boring ones ever, or they were dormant until today. Does losing your virginity strengthen powers? Is it something I can Google? I can't imagine asking Nora. Sophie is a witch, I could ask her, but Declan is her brother and that's weird. Talking to anyone about my sex life is weird. Gah.

Everything was easy this morning. Now I'm confused. I still love Declan, but he kept stuff from me. Important stuff. Life-changing stuff. Why? Are there other things he's kept from me? More than my witch powers. Important information about him. What does it mean to be on the Unicorn Council? Does he have to live somewhere special? Is this something he passes down to our children? Are they going to have their futures dictated from birth? I don't want that for my children. Children. I can't believe this morning we were talking about a future, and now the past has called that into question. Right?

They've reached the back door. They'll be back up here soon. I should go out and deal with things. I look longingly at my bed. I could feign sleep for a few more hours to buy myself time, but I should face things. Or I could leave. Leaving is always an option. I'm good at starting over. But I don't want to. I want to stay. I want to put down roots. I want to belong. Looking down at my hoodie, I cringe. I love this shirt and it makes me smile. Even though my parents insisted I was lying about seeing a unicorn, I knew it existed in my dreams at least. Shirts like this and my little collection of trinkets were my way of making my dreams real and my parents could kiss off. But knowing what I do now, I don't know if I can ever wear it again. Changing into jeans and a gray sweater matching my mood, I sit on the edge of my bed to put on my sneakers when there is a light tap on my door and a murmured, "Miranda?"

"Come in," I say.

Sophie opens the door and pokes her head in. "Hey, I didn't know if you were still asleep or not."

"I've been awake for a few minutes. Come in."

She leaves the door open, and I can hear Dec in the living room. The sound of his deep voice is soothing. It wraps around me like the tartan blanket he loaned me for my bed, and we slept under last night. I run my hand over it, wondering if we'll sleep beneath it together again tonight.

"Earth to Miranda." Sophie waves a hand in front of my face.

"Huh?"

She rolls her eyes and lets out a huff. "Daydreaming like always. I said your parents will be here soon. Stone is driving me back to the hotel. Pack a bag. We need to get there before them."

"What?" I cry.

In a flash, Dec is in the doorway. His forehead is furrowed, and I think I see concern in his beautiful blue eyes. "Miranda, what's wrong?"

"Why are my parents coming here? Who called them?"

Sophie tilts her head and looks at me like I'm crazy. After today, I'm pretty sure I am. "I did. You're having some sort of crisis. It makes more sense for your mother to be here than mine."

"You're in touch with my parents?" I haven't heard from them other than a text telling me they moved to New Jersey after I left for New Zealand. I texted them and sent emails while I was over there but didn't hear back. I chalked it up to them being busy. Once I'm settled here, my plan was to let them know I was here and suggest meeting up. This week has been crazy with the travel and jet lag, and I hadn't had a chance to do anything yet. I want to show them the life I've made for myself. How I can take care of myself and not be dependent on them. Make them proud of me.

"Of course. We talk on the phone, I visit with them. I was with them before I came here. We exchange birthday cards. I called Doreen before I went for a run."

Birthday cards. Phone calls. Visits. They have more of a relationship with Sophie than they've ever had with me. Why can't they do that with me? I know Sophie is more vivacious and fun than I am. Even so, I'm their daughter.

"And you knew they were in New Jersey? Is that why you came back?" Dec asks me from the doorway.

Before I can answer, Sophie puts her hands on my shoulders, and the connection I've always felt with her zings. The concern I'd expect from my best friend is shining in her eyes.

"I'm sorry I called your parents," she says. "I thought it's what you'd want. I'm trying to help. They've always been kind to me. Surely there's a reason you didn't know about being a witch. I want to figure this out as much as you, Miranda. Let's do that, okay? Then you can come back here"—she rolls her eyes—"and play house with Dec. Blech." I giggle at the face she makes. She grins back. "C'mon, let's get your bag packed." She gives my shoulders a friendly squeeze before stepping back.

"Why does she need a bag? What's going on? Miranda?" Declan walks farther into my bedroom. He's running a hand through his hair, and I try to ignore how sexy the flexing of his biceps is.

Before I can answer, Sophie does.

"Her parents and, for some strange reason, our parents, are coming to town because she's upset. It makes sense for her to be where they are. It's not like they want to trek out here. She works across the way. It makes sense for her to stay with me. I'm sure she'd be more comfortable. Right, Miranda? I assume your bag is in the closet?" She walks into the closet and calls out, "You never even unpacked, let's go."

I hear a long zip, and Sophie emerges from the closet I share with Dec, pulling my suitcase behind her.

"Ready?" she asks.

"Wait a minute, what is going on? Miranda, you don't have to go." Dec takes my hand and laces our fingers together. "Daisy, don't leave me." The desperation in his voice breaks my heart.

"Declan," Sophie says with a huff of exasperation mixed with sympathy, "don't be dramatic. It makes sense to have everyone in the same place. It's a night or two, not forever."

Dec's phone dings, and he checks it. "They are about to land." He looks up at me.

"Then I suggest you go get them," Sophie says. "Meet us at the hotel. Ready to go, Miranda?"

Dec's thumb brushes across my knuckles, and my tummy flips. "Come with me and then we'll all go to the hotel. Let's talk about this."

Sophies lets out a huge sigh, rolling her eyes so hard I'm surprised she isn't dizzy.

"Ugh. Could you be more dramatic?" she asks. "You two can be apart for an hour and survive. Declan, you go meet our parents who dropped everything to come here from Chicago in under three hours. Miranda will go meet her parents, who also dropped everything to come here. We will get this straightened out, and then we can all move on."

This is all happening too fast. I need time to think. My mind can't move as fast as Sophie's whirling around the room.

She grabs my wrist and drags me toward the door. "Miranda, come on. I know you don't want to be rude and leave your parents waiting."

"Okay, Soph," I say. I know she's trying to help me, but I'm annoyed at myself for falling back into the passive habits I had as a child. Sophie was always the more forceful one of us and it was easier to go along with her than fight it. Same with my mother. Same with a lot of people. Hell, they aren't childhood habits, they are habits I've had my whole life. I need to break them. But not today. I need to get through today and then I can work on all my other faults. I want to stay with Declan but until I know what the hell is going on with me being a witch and being told I was a liar all my life when I know I'm not, I can't deal with him and with my emotions. I'm not sure I can trust my feelings. I'm not sure I can trust him. But I want to.

I stand on tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips. I want to say, "I love you," but it's new, and it's awkward to say it in front of Sophie when she's in this kind of mood. "I'll see you at the hotel, Declan. Thank you."

Sophie grabs my arm and pulls me behind her out of my bedroom, calling, "Can one of you get Miranda's bag?"

Carter grabs it and follows us. I'm surprised he hasn't said more. Stone leads the way downstairs, with Sophie following him. Everyone else must be in the other apartment. It's weird to be leaving like this. It is reminiscent of all the times I've switched schools. It was like this, someone coming in, saying it was time to go. Packed in a hurry and out the door. No time for goodbyes. Not that I had friends to say goodbye to. But this isn't goodbye. I'll be back. I guess it makes sense to spend the night with Sophie to get maximum time with my parents. I want to spend time with my parents and reestablish our relationship, but I'm sure they will leave in the morning. They're busy. I want both Declan and my parents to be in my future. I'll have to learn to balance it. This will be the first test. They are within a couple of hours. We can drive up and visit them when we have home stretches.

"Hey, wait a second, Randi," Carter says when we reach the landing. "You don't have to go. You can stay here. I'm sure Mallory and Liam can put your parents in one of the guest rooms. Same for Mac's mom and dad. Even his she-devil of a sister."

I give him a quick hug. He can be a twit sometimes, but he has a generous and loving heart.

"Thanks, Trev. This is for the best. I need to work out some stuff with my parents and for myself. Anyway, I wouldn't wish my parents on your sister."

"Randi, you haven't met our parents yet. I'm sure yours aren't any worse than ours."

"Thank you, Trev, but I sense a big family blow-up coming, and I don't want to force my family drama on anyone else." Besides, my friends here already have the wrong idea about my parents. Every time I shared stories about my childhood, they reacted with shocked eyes and open mouths. If I'm going to try to change things with my parents, I don't need to be around those negative vibes. And if I can't change things, I don't need them to see me shattered.

Declan comes bursting out the door, ready to rush down the stairs. He stops short when he sees me and Carter on the landing.

"Miranda, you're still here," he says with relief clear in his voice.

"Go ahead," I tell Carter, "I'll be down in a moment."

Declan comes down to join me on the landing. "Miranda, let me come with you. We'll face your parents and whatever happens together. Please don't push me away."

I grab his hands and hold them to my heart. I hope he can feel how hard it is beating. For him.

"Declan, I have to do this myself. I need to speak with my mother and figure out what is going on. Everything I thought I knew about myself is wrong. You kept things from me." He starts to protest but I press a finger to his lips to silence him. "I'm not saying you did it on purpose. But you knew things about me I didn't know about myself. Who knows what else there is?"

He kisses my fingertip and pulls his head back. "Okay, you need to speak with your parents. But you don't have to stay there. You go see them, maybe have dinner, and then come home."

I shrug. "Maybe that's how it will work out. But I don't think it will work out that easily. You know my mother, she's…difficult. It will be easier to be there and deal with her. The sooner things are resolved, the sooner we can get on with our life. Please, let me handle this."

Turning and jogging down the stairs, I wipe away a tear. I take a deep breath to steady myself before pushing through the door. I can do this. I've done hard things before. It's talking to my parents. I'm not thirteen years old and friendless in a new school being told about the facts of life by the cleaning lady who found me sobbing in the girls' restroom convinced I was going to die when I got my first period.

Sophie and Stone are already in Stone's truck. Taking the passenger seat, I close the door.

"Let's go," I say.