Charlotte reaches across the backseat and covers her sister’s mouth. “That was still too loud.”
“Smrry,” Maggie says against her palm. Then she must lick her, because Charlotte squeaks and jerks back saying, “Gross!”
Finn’s glowing smile broadens. “How about I take you all out for ice cream?”
“Yes, please!” Maggie chirps—at an auditory level we can all stand this time.
“I’m taking them,” Deek says. And something about the way he says it makes everyone fall quiet.
He turns his head, and I can’t tell if he’s meeting Finn’s eyes, but Finn is sure staring down at him. At work, he’s got a vibe of authority that few people would push against. Here, now, with Deek, he’s wearing an even more commanding vibe than even I’m used to seeing.
If influence can be physically felt, I’d swear our vehicle is feeling Finn’s will pushing into Deek’s. But shockingly, Deek doesn’t back down. “Susan made me supper last night. I’m repaying the treat.”
“Ah,” Finn’s whole manner relaxes. He inclines his head. “And it’ll be good for you to practice being out and about. Fair play to ya, lad.” He claps him on the shoulder and steps back from the car—then his eyes pin mine. “I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, Sue.”
I give him a smile. “Yep. I’ll be in at eight.”
“O’ course. Well, you have a good time. Enjoy ice cream,” he says with an especially indulgent wink for Maggie.
“We will,” she assures him.
“If you’re not satisfied after this, we’re going to bury you in a carton of ice cream,” Charlotte warns her.
“I would like that,” Maggie says.
“Bye, Finn,” I call.
He blows me a cheeky kiss that’s somehow not dorky in the slightest—just attractive—and we wave as I pull out and follow the other churchgoers’ cars down the picturesque road.
***
Ginny is a watchful-eyed fourteen-year-old with a face and curves so pretty, her biggest problem in life should be having to beat modeling agencies away from her door with a stick.
In reality, it’s child-preying monsters she needs the stick for.
Deek’s eyes are narrowed as he stares down at the table… Or at the bruises on her wrists.
Despite the heat outside, she’s dressed in a baggy, stained hoodie. This in itself could be taken as a strange sign for anyone, but for Ginny, it’s especially concerning. She’s got the warmest blood out of all my girls—not that she’s mine-mine, but she practically grew up at our house and even has a bed of her own in Charlotte’s room. She must be sweating like crazy under her layers, and the fact that she’s keeping the hoodie on regardless of her discomfort means she’s deliberately using it in order to hide.
By the way Deek’s scowl has darkened as he stares at her wrists (which Ginny keeps trying to hide with the ragged cuffs of her sleeves), maybe he can guess that her visible bruises probably aren’t the worst of her problems.
Ginny isn’t unaware of where his attention is; she’s exceptionally good at ignoring people’s concern. Apparently, even a werewolf’s concern. Deek tried to gently inquire if she needed help, but she shut him down hard, and he dropped his line of questioning.
If I had to guess, I’d say she’s suffering from the devil you know versus the devil you don’t syndrome: if people report the abuse, she’ll be completely uprooted. Plus, it will make her mother feel betrayed (and therefore, make her angry at Ginny), and there’s the big possibility that Ginny will end up in worse circumstances than she’s in now.
It’s scary when you can’t trust that you’ve got a safety net to catch you.
So Ginny sits sandwiched beside me and Charlotte, and across from her is an oblivious Maggie and a quietly incensed werewolf.
The only upside to the circumstances? Having something to focus his attention on is keeping Deek from freaking out. He admitted that public places push too much stimuli; all the sounds, smells, and eyes of too many people.
It must be a submissive thing. I know lots of werewolves from the pub, and they love people. Socializing is like a need. I think they’d shrivel up and die if they couldn’t mingle with the public. See: Finn Cauley.
But for Deek, it’s a different thing, and that’s okay. And although the distraction is good for him, the reason he’s distracted is just… sad. Gah, my heart aches for Ginny. And it’s obvious that her circumstances aren’t sitting well with Deek either.