Hasan would keep in touch, and Lani would call me back.
The alarm for the oven made me jump. I quickly turned it off and removed the cookies before anything was burned.
“Are you okay?” Carey asked softly.
“I am,” I lied, smiling easily at her. I wasn’t. I wasn’t normally so jumpy or distracted, not with people around—never with people around. This was the second time in front of her I’d lost track of my surroundings. Including Saturday with Heath made it three times. Three times in three days. Unusual, to say the least, but the recent news had me distracted. I grabbed a plate and two glasses. Carey couldn’t walk over to me fast enough as I swiftly poured the milk, moving too quickly, and over poured. She grabbed the glass before I knocked it off the counter as I cussed darkly.
“What’s wrong, Jacky?” Her words sounded woeful and sad.
“Nothing. There’s just a lot on my mind, and I was rushing to get you milk and…” I shook my head. “Go sit and I’ll—”
“I got it!” She smiled and ran to grab the paper towels. I snatched them from her and pointed to the table. I was too edgy now, especially since she was noticing something was off. I cleaned up as she sat back down. I put her milk and the cookies in front of her, grabbing my glass last.
“Why don’t I just turn on a movie tonight?” I suggested, smiling weakly.
“Okay.”
Turning on the most recent superhero movie, we watched from the table, eating cookies. I ordered Chinese food absentmindedly as the movie played, and it got there fast. I made two plates of Mongolian beef and fried rice, making sure I fed her before shoveling the rest onto my own plate. I could easily eat it all, but I always made sure Carey had enough food. There were even a couple of days when she had told me to stop giving her food. When the first movie was over, I turned on another. It was a good distraction for her, something to keep her eyes off me while my mind continued to wander.
The other werecats could force me to give up Carey. My palms grew sweaty. If they hated that wolves lived in my territory, they could force the issue. They had to see it wasn’t so bad, they could work with their wolves.
Unless their wolves wanted to kill them because they were possible threats.
What if Carey was in danger? Or Heath and Landon? What if a werecat decided to try to claim my territory to teach me a lesson?
The very idea paralyzed me for much of the second film. When it was over, Carey jumped up and took our empty glasses to the sink.
“Jacky…” She touched my shoulder when she got back. “It’s nine thirty.” She yawned, and I groaned.
“Sorry. Let’s get you home. I wasn’t the best company tonight.”
“It’s okay. We all have bad days.” She didn’t seem sad, but I felt guilty. “You’ll be better next Monday.”
“Yup.” I smiled and herded her out of my apartment and back down to my car. She texted her dad with my cellphone as we got into the car. What amazed me was he didn’t call, not that he ever had before. Normally, when I was a little late getting her back, we told him, and he just said it was fine.
“He’s not mad,” Carey finally announced next to me. “He says he got caught up with work. Who’s Jabari?”
“My brother,” I answered quickly then clamped my jaw. “Don’t…”
“Tell anyone? Okay. I don’t like people meeting Richard and Landon either. They just…scare people off. Big brothers, right?”
“Right,” I agreed. “He’s a very private man, and if Heath learns about him, you know your dad is going to look up everything he can.”
“Oh yeah, he is that nosy.”
I let the conversation die out until we were in front of her house. “Be good for your dad. Tell him I’m sorry for being back late with you.”
“He’ll understand.” Carey yawned as she slid out of my hatchback. “Good night, Jacky.”
“Good night, Carey.”
I watched her walk inside, her dad meeting her at the door. He tilted his head at me, leveling me with a confused stare. I wasn’t normally late. I just drove off, hoping he would forget about it.
6
Chapter Six
I spent the week constantly checking my phone. Hasan was true to his word for the first few days, but Friday came and went without a call or text from him. It was