the way so we’re not obstructed. “What time should we pick you up?”
“Oh,” he’s pinned his eyes to my throat. “I can ask for a ride back to your house with someone else if it would be easier—”
“Deek, we’re going to do grocery shopping and stuff. Don’t worry. We can get you… unless you have a friend with a bigger backseat. We totally understand if you don’t want to play clown car with us twice. What time?”
His lip quirks at the clown comment. “Noon.”
“Okay.” I try to send him a reassuring smile, but he still can’t meet my eyes. “We’ll be here. Bye for now.”
He manages a tentative smile of his own. “All right.”
Charlotte and Maggie wave and we start to roll forward—but then I tap Charlotte’s arm. “Stop.”
She does. I lean out the window. “Deek!”
He turns, looking confused. He trots to us, and I notice the way his thigh muscles bunch in his dark jeans. He’s wearing a rust-colored sport coat that brings out the color of his eyes—and I’m able to admire this fact for about the length of a heartbeat before he lowers his gaze and stops by my side of the car. “Yes?”
“What’s your cell phone number?” I ask him.
He frowns again. “I don’t know.” He reaches into his pocket and draws it out like it’s the remote to a spaceship.
He hands it to me.
“Oh,” I croak—handling it like it’s a remote to a spaceship. “I don’t do technology. Hang on.” I start to pass it over.
Charlotte’s already snatching it, snickering. “Give it here.”
I tip my head to Deek. “The eldest child wields the tech in our household.”
“But I’m in training,” Maggie pipes up.
Deek’s lips curve upwards, and his eyes crinkle, his gaze flicking in her direction.
“She’s in training,” I confirm. “How do you not know your phone number?”
His shrug holds a world of bafflement. “I’ve never needed one. It’s new. I’ve never looked at it.” I’ve never seen a spaceship before. I don’t know how anyone expects me to fly it; I’m not qualified for something this advanced.
I really feel him on this. It took me a month to get used to my latest phone, and for half of it, I just handed the stupid thing to Charlotte and asked her to figure it out. “Ah.”
“Done,” Charlotte announces, and passes the phone to my hand and I in turn hold it out for Deek.
“‘Preciate it,” he murmurs, tucking it back into his pocket.
“Have a good service,” I tell him. “Bye for real.”
He meets my eyes. “See you again soon.”
With that, we pull away.
CHAPTER 6
SUSAN
Deek texts us one word: Ready.
The return trip to the werewolf church is uneventful, and because Charlotte got plenty of driving time while we tooled around town, I’m in the driver’s seat, which means the circumstances are set for a much more merciful excursion where Deek’s legs are concerned: he gets the front seat and four more generous inches of legroom.
“DO YOU WANT ICE CREAM?” Maggie orders more than asks the moment his butt hits the passenger seat.
“Umm…” He sends me a look asking for help without ever actually making eye contact.
Werewolves are really interesting. “It’s okay,” I tell him, snickering. “She doesn’t need ice cream. We reminded her what Finn said about new places and told her you probably wouldn’t be up for it.”
“Only if it’s my treat,” Deek declares.
Surprised, I glance over and—
Deek’s staring right at me. “I pay.”
“Are you sure—”
“Yes.”
“YAY!” Maggie cries.
Charlotte groans. “Maggs, turn it down, okay? My ear is like two feet from your car seat, and you’re going to make me deaf.” She sits forward and pats my shoulder. “Mom?”
It’s me who looks away from Deek this time. “Hmm?”
“Can we pick up Ginny? She’s at the park.”
My heart lurches for her, wondering what—or more like who—drove her out of her home this time. “Sure.”
“Can she spend the night?” Charlotte asks.
“Susan!” calls a familiar voice from outside of the vehicle.
Her mom might cause trouble, but whenever possible, we try to offer Ginny safe harbor, especially at night. “Of course she can, tell her she knows she is always welcome,” I answer, craning around Deek who is facing forward, eyes pointed to the dashboard.
It’s Finn, jogging up to our idling car. “Howeyeh, Deek’s keepers! Fancy seeing all of you here!” He’s grinning as he bends down to fit himself at the window. “Howeyeh again, Deek.”
Deek jerks his chin, the only indication that he heard his friend.
Finn waves to me, Maggie, and Charlotte. “Where are you headed to next?”