Page 17 (1/2)

While the streets of Fairbanks had been dead, Anchorage was choked with traffic e returned late

I stifled a yawn

Dante hadn&039;t shut up since we left Fairbanks - like he was on some kind of adrenaline rush He&039;d wanted a detailed play by play of ent down at Ivo&039;s Finally I&039;d relented, it was either that or listen to hiood I had to adet once

"Do youme off in front of Video City?" I asked as we neared home

Dante raised a brow

"I want to spend a quiet night watching rin "Good idea Rent some chick flicks, kick back, and relax You earned it, Sky"

I began tapping h as we approached the video store

I unclicked my seatbelt when Dante parked

"Thanks for dropping me off See you around?"

"No, it&039;s cool," he replied "I&039;ll hile you pick out soestions if you like I have excellent taste in movies"

I looked at the dashboard "I&039; soue "Is this someone a boy?"

"None of your business"

"We&039;re partners, Sky You don&039;t ever have to lie to me Just say the word I&039;m cool with it"

I relaxed in my seat "Yeah, I know Thanks"

"No problemo"

I reached back and scratched Tommy&039;s head "Bye for now, Tommy Keep Dante out of trouble"

Dante chuckled "Stay out of trouble yourself, Sky Sure I shouldn&039;t stick around and meet this boy, make sure he&039;s up to snuff?"

"I never said it was a boy"

Dante smiled way too much, but at least it wasn&039;t creepy like Melcher "Of course it&039;s a boy"

"Whatever," I said "You&039;re such a man child"

Dante reached behindas he did

"Forever young," he said with a wink, handing over oodbye to Dante

"Be in touch again soon, Sky Get your rest!"

The Rubicon sped away

I opened my phone and called Fane to tell him I was at Video City Aspeed or was nearby to begin with I was thinking the latter given he was driving the tank

The Catalina squealed as he pulled in front of Video City

"I don&039;t think she likes the cold," I said as he stepped out

Not even a smile Crescent shadows rimmed Fane&039;s eyes Maybe I shouldn&039;t have called hinored his calls for the next couple hours

"So you took off for Fairbanks with souy?" he asked

Then there was that "Brother-type guy"

"Right," Fane said, sarcastically "Let&039;s just get the facts straight You left toith a guy who is not your brother and spent the entire night with him"

Tears swam over my vision - probably because I hadn&039;t slept in twenty-seven hours and had ra killer vampires, a heart was a heart I&039;d caused two to stop beating in the last twenty-four hours

"Are you crying? Hey, come here"

I loved that Fane&039;s voice could change in an instant I loved his arainst him, determined never to leave the coo on without ers stilled over the bruise at the hairline of ently He stroked the tender flesh as though he could rub the wound away My scalp tingled

"Want to tell ot this bruise?"

I looked up into his eyes "I just want to be with you"

Fane frowned "Why did you leave?"

"Friend eency I can&039;t talk about it I&039;m sorry"

"I don&039;t care what it was What kind of friend expects you to rush off to Fairbanks in thetoo much of you"

"Tellfro it out It better not be Dante

Nope, Mom

I pressed the phone to my ear "Hi, Mom We made it to town Be ho Yes, I&039;m sureBecause I know Fine" I held my phone down "Dante, want to stay for lunch? Are you sure? Okay" I put the phone back to ht, so see you soon Bye, Mom"

I closed my phone and rolled my eyes

Fane stared at me "What kind of name is Dante?"

"What kind of name is Fane?" I countered

He chose not to answer, instead asking, "Doesn&039;t your mother want to have me over for lunch?"

"I don&039;t know"

"Maybe I ought to meet your mom and assure her my intentions are honorable"

"Oh, are they?" I teased

Fane grinned "Well, perhaps not all honorable, but for the ht? That&039;ll givefast

"Just tell rinned "How about I walk you home for now?"

"That&039;s really nice, but I&039;ve gotten over my fear of cars"

If I could survive fourteen hours in a et inside a care with anyone

"How about for old tirinned "And er"

My smile reached my ears "Okay then, for old time&039;s sake"

Fane took my pack and put it over his shoulder

The walk looked different without the snoer colances at Fane I saw hi not to smile every time I stared at him I slipped ?" I asked

"I quit"

"Why?"

"I don&039;t want to expose you to secondhand smoke"

"So you just quit like that? Cold turkey?"

"I haven&039;t s cravings?"

"For nicotine?" Fane paused "No"

"You make it sound so easy"

He stared into the distance before answering "Some habits are easier to kick than others"

I squeezed his hand For all Fane&039;s tough talk about being immune, it wasn&039;t worth the risk I didn&039;t want Fane to get cancer I didn&039;t want anything bad to ever happen to him