The High School Reunion From Hell - Saranna DeWylde Page 0,31

than happy to help me pick out a few suits.”

“I am not putting the cleavage on display. It’ll roast in the sun.” I patted my chest. “And it’ll make it old before its time.”

I wondered if that would be a way to test my new abilities. Would my skin be more resistant to burns, too? I didn’t really want to risk it.

“I know. So look, I got you this rash guard thing. It’s like shirt, and shorts. But it still makes your curves look poppin’.” She roused herself from her where she snuggled Vlad and handed me a bag.

“You and Ryder really went all out on this.”

“We did. You deserve to have fun, and to be happy.”

I opened the bag and I didn’t hate it. I usually hated all of my bathing suit options. With my dimensions, everything I wore looked lewd. I was much more comfortable wearing a shirt and bike shorts.

And this was almost the same thing. It was a two-piece, but there was amazing coverage. The neckline was modest and covered my décolletage, with long sleeves. It was blue and green, like a mermaid tale, and sparkled like scales.

“This is actually perfect.”

“See? If you’d trust me once in a while.”

“I trust you all the time,” I promised her.

“Speaking of trust, where’s your water bottle?”

I realized then that I didn’t have it. It wasn’t in my room, and it wasn’t in my bag. I’d had it earlier, and I’d left it in my room.

“Someone’s been in here.” I looked at the strawberry I was about to put in my mouth and put it down.

“Given the GHB in play, I wouldn’t drink anything you didn’t open from a sealed container yourself.” Lila Jean sat up straighter. “You checked the room for listening devices, right?”

“I did. We’re clear.”

“Why did they take your water bottle? I don’t like this, Margie.”

“Me either.” Someone had been in my room without me knowing. I was slipping. My mind was too much on my bean and not on the task at hand. This was why slayers didn’t get to retire. They got sloppy and they paid for it with their lives.

“Do you want to come stay in my room?” Lila Jean asked.

Now, I was extra glad that we had decided to get our own rooms. I didn’t want to put Lila Jean in any more danger than she was already in. “Obviously not. That might put a target on your back."

“I don’t know, am I safer alone or with you and Vlad?”

“Hey, I see what you’re doing.” I nodded at her.

She grinned. “I know you’re strong, Margie. I know this is what you do, but I also know that if I lost you, I couldn’t handle it. So think about what’s best for you now and then, okay?”

“I do.”

Lila Jean eyed me.

“I do,” I repeated. “I didn’t call Presley to check on her because that wasn’t best for me.” I sighed. “Even though, I probably should.”

“She’s fine. She’s going to need you more when all of this comes to fruition, regardless of how things turn out with him. If he’s alive, what a fucking bastard. And if he’s dead…”

“…He’s still a bastard. He’s just a dead bastard.”

Lila Jean nodded. “I’ll give her a text tonight to check on her.”

“Actually, you know what? Maybe you should stay here tonight.” I’d been thinking about the creepy shadows down by the doggie daycare and I didn’t want her walking those halls alone. Vampires could go out in the daylight, but their power was magnified at night. Lila Jean knew how to defend herself, I’d shared a lot of my training with her. But she wasn’t a chosen one. She was mortal, human, with only those strengths and weaknesses.

“Sleepover!” She hopped back on the bed. “We can watch The Craft.”

“You always want to watch The Craft.”

“Yes, I do.” She grabbed the pentacle necklace around her neck and gave it a rub with her thumb. “Obviously.”

“Obviously.”

This moment made me think about what Marc had said earlier about how I wanted him, but I didn’t need him.

It had really pissed me off, but maybe he was right. Maybe I should have needed him, not because I wasn’t capable, but because I needed Lila Jean. I need Vlad. He was leaving me, and I was going to survive.

I didn’t think I’d survive without Vlad and Lila Jean. Without them, I’d be lost. Dead on the inside and just waiting for my body to catch up.

Maybe I was supposed to feel that way