Page 22 (1/2)

For a ht he’d protest, but he turned to uys"

"That won’t be necessary," the wouys can catch up"

My pulse was all over the place, and I glanced at Daemon for help A muscle popped in his jaw as he stood by, silent and helpless I knew then there was nothing he could do Forcing a soing out of your way"

Daeht hand clenched

"It’s not out of the way," she replied "We love the roads back here Fall colors and all Ready?"

I looked at Daeaze followed my steps Iin, I seriously hoped I didn’t end up on ainto his own car, but he stopped and glanced back at me I’d swear I heard his voice in my head It’ll be okay But it couldn’t have been hi, because for a h my veins What if this was the last time I saw him--saw anyone? What if they’d discovered I knew the truth?

What if they knehat I could do?

Noished I’d let Dae to disappear, then at least iven me some sort of completion

I forced ers at him before the woer seat and twisted around "Seat belt?"

Hands shaking and sweaty, I fastened , but the hairs on hisheavily "Um, thanks for the ride"

"It’s no problem My name is Nancy Husher," she said, and then nodded at the driver "This is Brian Vaughn He’s known Dae for the ride"

I’m sure you are "Oh…that’s really nice"

Nancy nodded "Daereed Brian "It’s not often that we see hiirl He must think a lot of you to help look for your cell phone"

My eyes darted between the two "I guess so He and his sister are really nice"

"Dee is a doll How close are you with theated Great "Well, since we’re the only ones who live on the salanced out the frontLuckily, I recognized that ere heading back toward Ketterman "And Daemon? How close are you with hi the question"

"I thought you said he was dating someone, Brian?"

"Ash Thompson," he answered

Like they didn’t know her na "Yeah, I think they broke up during the su to do with us"

"It doesn’t?" Nancy asked

I shooka little bit of the truth couldn’t hurt "We’re just friends Most of the ti"

"But you just said he was nice"

Shit Face blank, I shrugged "He can be nice when he wants"

A single pale eyebrow arched "And what about Dee?"

"She’s awesoest trip ever I was going to have a heart attack before it was over There was so about Nancy, more than just the obvious, that made me squirm

"And what do you think of their parents?"

I frowned These were really weird questions to be asking, given the fact they didn’t know I knew anything "I don’t know They’re parents"

Brian laughed Was this dude real? It sounded a bit mechanical

"What I meant is, do you like theoing I really haven’t talked to the out at their house often, so I don’t run into them"

She held my stare a few more moments and then turned around in her seat No one spoke after that Sweat gathered along my brow When Brian turned onto my road, I almost cried in relief The car coasted to a stop, and I was already unbuckling my seat belt