her as she was on her way home from the store? That terror filled her so completely, she wet her pants?”
Brooke stilled in disbelief for a second, then she fell into the memory like a skydiver during free fall, her expression blank, void of anything but that moment in time.
“And when she wrenched free of him, ripping her shirt and staining it with the orange Popsicle she dropped, she ran all the way home, too scared to scream, too in shock to cry. But she never told her mother. She wasn’t supposed to go to the store by herself. Ever. And she was more worried about getting in trouble for that than turning the man in. So she never told anyone.”
After taking a moment to let the memory resurface, Brooke stood and stepped back, struggled to absorb the fact that I knew.
“How would you suggest that I tell her that?” I asked, my voice soft, empathetic. “The student who wet her pants and told her mom she’d fallen in a puddle of water? How should I approach her and tell her that I know one of her most guarded secrets? Do you think she would believe me?”
I hadn’t missed the clenching of Cameron’s fists when I talked about Brooke’s memory. The tensing of his jaw. He cared for her deeply. That much was obvious. And I was glad because of it. To have a nephilim on your side could only be a good thing. He was super strong and super fast and could protect her from so many of life’s dangers. Like pedophiles.
“I don’t want this anymore, Brooke. Any of it.”
She blinked back to me, but before she could respond, Glitch lifted the window. “What’d I miss?” he asked, his gaze bouncing between the two of us. Alarm flitted across his face when he saw Brooke. Then again when he saw me, and I realized I was crying.
I wiped furiously at my wet cheeks and strode to the bathroom. Apparently, Cameron had called the whole gang.
“What happened?” Glitch asked Brooke as I closed the door and swiped at the tears, angry at what I’d seen, angrier that I’d shocked Brooke, that I’d hurt her with a memory she’d tucked into the farthest reaches of her consciousness, trying desperately to forget.
Oh, yeah. These visions were great.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
Since I’d been honest with Brooke, I had no choice but to tell Glitch the truth about my visions as well. He was surprised. And then a little hurt. Then a little angry. Then sympathetic. And about twenty seconds after all his emotions boiled and bubbled beneath his coppery surface, he settled on understanding and supportive.
“We’re staying over all weekend if we can get away with it,” he said. “But seriously, Cameron needs to go for pizza.”
Cameron scowled over his shoulder. “Okay, and while I’m gone, can you protect Lorelei from any supernatural threats that might come her way?”
“I’ll go for pizza,” he corrected. Thankfully, the Pizza Place stayed open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
An hour later, we were having a slumber party complete with pepperoni pizza, orange soda, and an ’80s movie about kids in detention who become unlikely friends.
“Shouldn’t Jared be back by now?” I asked Cameron, growing more concerned by the minute.
He took another bite of pizza and shrugged. He was so helpful.
I stood and looked out the window. “My grandparents are sending me away.”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and gaped at me.
“They got in a fight with several members of the Order about it, but they’re resolute. They think it’s become too dangerous, and they’re sending me away.”
Cameron frowned as though confused, as though the mere thought was unfathomable.
“Did you remind them how insane that is?” Glitch asked.
“I didn’t talk to them about it. I overheard.”
“Then I’m going with you,” Brooke said, indignation raising her chin. “They can’t separate us. We’re practically twins.”
* * *
Glitch took the floor. Cameron took Brooke’s bed since it was closest to the window seat and he could stare out the window in his broody way and still get some rest. And Brooke had insisted. She slept with me on my bed, and while we were small, we still had to snuggle really close to get comfortable. Twin beds weren’t exactly made for two, but it was nice having her so close. About an hour after we all settled in, I still couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about Jared. Was he still out there? Back in his apartment? Was he still