explained as Ed started to scratch her little head.
“It’s because I give the best head scratches,” Ed cooed at the ferret.
“He does.” Charlie nodded seriously, as if we were discussing Ed’s qualifications for a high-paying job. “He gives the best head scratches.”
Ed just smiled and lifted his other hand to the back of Charlie’s head, giving him the same treatment. Both Charlie and Squiggles closed their eyes and melted into his touch.
Dot bugged her eyes at me and shook her head. Can you believe this shit?
I laughed silently, my shoulders shaking. Who cares? I’m happy they’re happy.
I really was. It warmed my heart more than I could describe. Charlie still struggled with what happened to him, but he was seeing a therapist specializing in trauma, and he was safe and happy. That would always make me smile.
My phone vibrated on the table, and I picked it up and opened the email without thinking.
Dear Miss Maynard,
You don’t know me, and I hope you don’t mind me messaging you out of the blue. But I saw the footage of you where you glowed, and it was so similar to my own experience that I just had to reach out and . . .
The smile fell from my face, and I exited the email without finishing it, dropping my phone on the table a little harder than intended.
“What’s the matter?” Dot’s voice was heavy with concern. A split second later, Squiggles leaped into my lap, her little face looking up at me.
I stroked her back, feeling the soft fur under my fingers. “Nothing really. I’m fine. Just keep getting these emails.”
“What emails?” Charlie leaned forward. “Is someone bothering you?”
I waved him off. “It’s nothing like that. I just keep getting messages from people claiming . . . They’re from other Vitals saying they can glow like me.”
“Have you been replying?” Charlie reached down for the messenger bag he usually had with him—the one with his computer. He was already going into super-hacker mode, ready to look into it, but he didn’t have his computer with him. With a frown, he returned his hand to the table.
“No, I’ve just been ignoring them. After everything that’s happened, how can I trust any of them are genuine? I mean, statistically I know it’s improbable that I’m the only one with this . . . quirk. But any one of them could be Davis trying to lure me in. It’s too risky and too convenient. Why have none of them come forward before? How is there absolutely no mention of this glowing bullshit anywhere? Like, none whatsoever?” I was starting to ramble, frustration leaking into my words as I gestured wildly.
Charlie caught one of my hands and held it on the table between us. I took a deep breath and returned the other to Squiggles’s fur.
“You’re right to be suspicious, Eve.” Charlie gave me a hard look. “But I’m sure some part of you is curious?”
“Of course! But with Davis breathing down our necks, Variants and humans tearing each other to pieces, my GPA needing to be kept up, and Alec’s stubborn ass refusing to have sex with me . . .”
I clamped my mouth shut. I couldn’t believe I’d just blurted that out. Dot knew most of it anyway, and I didn’t mind talking to Charlie about it, but the last thing I wanted to do was make Ed uncomfortable. When I looked in his direction though, his expression was nothing but concerned, if a little amused.
“We can deal with the Master of Pain’s sexual hang-ups another day.” Dot waved her hand.
“And we can deal with the emails whenever you want.” Charlie patted my arm. “I can look into them, do some digging, see if they’re at least legit people. But you’re entitled to a private life, Eve. You don’t have to answer them if you don’t want to.”
I nodded and let Dot change the topic. I could see Charlie’s point; I was under no obligation to reply to any of these people. But the main reason I was avoiding the emails wasn’t privacy—it was fear. The idea that this was another way for Davis to suck me into his clutches again—that it could put my Variants, my friends, my family in danger—terrified me.
But my mind was naturally curious. Surely some of them were legitimate, honest calls for help? If these people were telling the truth, they were likely just as scared and confused about their glowing as I was. Maybe getting together could help us