Mina’s stomach dropped into her shoes. She looked at the ground in dismay. She knew this was too good to be true. She tried to turn away, but Brody gripped her shoulders harder. She looked up in surprise just as Brody kissed her gently on the forehead. “I want to be more.”
Mina felt her knees go weak, and for once she had no snappy retort.
“But I have a feeling, if I pressure you, you’re going to run for the hills,” Brody continued. “So I’m willing to wait until you’re ready.” He had pulled her into a hug and was whispering into her hair. “See you’re already shaking.” He pulled away from her, and she felt an immediate sense of loss. That one brief moment had felt…right.
Mina sighed wistfully, but didn’t feel totally abandoned, as Brody continued to hold her hand. He walked her up the stairs to the door of her flat. Mina fumbled for the key and dropped it. She reached down sheepishly and was about to insert it when the door opened on its own.
“That’s strange,” Mina said, leaning past Brody and pushing the door further open until it finally hit something solid. The little view they had through the opened door was enough to make Mina’s heart race with fear. Their kitchen was destroyed.
Panicking, Mina pushed on the door harder, but it didn’t budge. Sensing her fear, Brody helped her push and got the door open, but grabbed Mina’s arm just as she was about to run headlong into danger. A chair had been knocked over in front of the door.
Brody shook his head and held up one finger to his mouth. He entered first, silently, and moved through each room, looking behind curtains, under beds, and in the closets. When he was sure it was safe, he motioned for Mina to enter her family’s apartment.
The sparse furnishings were knocked over, dumped out, and looked to have been rummaged through, but nothing was actually damaged too badly. When you didn’t own a lot, a thorough search wouldn’t actually take too long.
“No one’s here.”
Mina needed to see for herself. She followed the same steps Brody took and noticed nothing was terribly wrong. She could probably put her home to rights before her family got home. She was about to enter her bedroom, but Brody stopped her.
“Mina, it doesn’t look too bad except for that room. It’s been destroyed.”
Mina peeked into her own bedroom and felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. It looked exactly the same as before, except her dresser drawers had been left open, with clothes hanging out. But Mina wasn’t about to admit it. She closed her bedroom door and walked back to the kitchen, and began to put drawers and utensils back where they belonged.
Brody went to the living room and helped pick up the potted plants, even sweeping up the dirt. Mina was secretly impressed that he hadn’t once urged her to call the police. She was now doubly thankful that she had taken the Grimoire to school with her, despite what she’d told Jared.
Wait a minute. Could he have done this? she thought. Could he have followed her home and trashed her house while she was out with Brody? He knew who she was, he knew about the Grimoire, and he’d specifically asked if she’d left it at home. Maybe he was in league with this Grey Tail, and simply trying to gain her trust?
Brody noticed that Mina had quit straightening and had begun to shake. He saw her, and this time she came to him willingly and buried her face in his chest. “It’s okay. I’ll protect you,” he whispered.
Mina wished she could believe Brody, but he had no idea what she was up against. How could he protect her and her family? Mina was still wrapped up in Brody’s arms when the door opened and Sara walked in, carrying brown paper grocery bags. She dropped them on the floor when she saw her daughter in the arms of an unknown boy.
Mina jumped back guiltily. Brody regretfully let her go, bending down to help her mother regain the dropped bags.
“Pardon me, Mrs. Grime.” Brody deposited the bags onto the kitchen table. He turned, scooped the bag Charlie was carrying out of his hands, and picked up the cans that had escaped onto the floor before Sara could recover and close her mouth.
“And who are you?” Sara asked. Mina wished her mother wasn’t always so suspicious.
“Brody Carmichael.” He leaned forward and offered Sara his hand. “I know Mina from school.”
Sara’s eyes widened when she recognized the name.
“Oh, that’s right. He’s the boy who you lent your notes to for class. Seriously, Brody, you should learn to take your own notes and not live off the sympathy of others,” Sara lectured.