A Touch Mortal

Chapter 38





The tension hadn’t cleared since the first night Gabe and Az had come. Though it’d been a week, every time Az so much as walked by, Adam’s fingers snatched hers, claiming her. It’d gotten so bad that even his hand on her knee was enough to set her teeth grinding.

With Gabe and Az staying with them, Eden felt safer, but each day that nothing happened, their constant presence irked her more.

She’d spent the last two days holed up in her room aside from her few minutes in the alley each morning. So far she’d read four paperbacks cover to cover and listened to the entire playlist on her iPod twice through. Boredom had settled in.

Sighing, she ripped her headphones from her ears.

She stretched, killing a few minutes before she stood up and threw on an outfit for the day. She didn’t bother with makeup. Opening her door, she crept out, hoping to avoid interaction long enough to grab a muffin.

No one was in the living room. The television was silent, the computer humming to the walls. Az had folded his blankets and added them to Gabe’s pile at the end of the couch, but Az and Gabe themselves were gone. The apartment was silent.

Eden opened the refrigerator, scanning the shelves, snagged an apple and a Mountain Dew. When she closed the door Libby was rounding the corner into the kitchen.

“If I watch one more surprise paternity test result I think I’m gonna puke.” She slid past Eden, grabbing her own apple and taking a bite. “Please tell me again why we’re just sitting here doing nothing?”

“We’re not. We’re lying low. Gabe and Az are trying to figure out what the Fallen know. Who killed James.”

“Jarrod said they were headed to the Bronx.”

Eden nodded. “Kristen’s there. Maybe she got a lead.”

Libby took another bite of the apple, wiping her chin. “So do you think something’s really going on?”

Eden pulled out a chair and sat. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I mean, obviously something happened with James. But they seem so sure it wasn’t a Sider. Which, yeah, but they went all conspiracy theory. I just think it’s a bit ridiculous that they’re keeping you locked up in here. I mean, something could just as easily go after Jarrod or Adam, right? They’re both out and we’re stuck here. It just seems a little…”

“Sexist.” Eden shot her a smile, rolling her eyes.

“I mean, give me chivalry. I’m all about having doors opened for me, but this whole fragile girls thing is turning out to be really boring.” Libby dropped into the chair beside her. “How about we plan a girls’ night out?”

Eden bit into her apple, chewing slowly. A night out could be fun. Something different. No. I need to stay inside. Just until we figure things out. Eden sighed. “The guys aren’t going to let me out of their sight.” Libby cocked her head, raising an eyebrow at the weak excuse. They weren’t exactly locked in. I can take care of myself, anyway.

“You underestimate me, my dear,” Libby said, putting up a finger. “Now, don’t judge until you’ve heard me out, but I’ve kinda been chatting to Adam the last few days about the whole Az situation. I told him I was on his side, and that usually a girl just needs a good second opinion,” she gushed, and pointed at herself.

Jarrod and Adam had taken Libby out, helping her spread what built each day, keeping her stable. And now she was the only one keeping Eden sane. She seemed to know exactly when Eden was about to snap, suddenly showing up to steal Adam away in a whirlwind of questions that she needed to be answered. More than once, Eden had mouthed thank you and gotten a wink in return, so she knew Libby was doing it on purpose.

“Libby,” Eden started. “It’s not gonna happen.”

“Meanwhile, in another movie,” Libby cut her off, “Az seems to know the rules of the game and is trying to get on the BFF’s good side. So that’s taken care of.”

Eden gave her an incredulous look. Since when were they best friends? Also, Libby had overlooked a key element. “But you forgot—”

“Gabe. Who I happened to overhear, telling Az that he had something to do tonight.” Libby was positively beaming.

“I don’t know.” A night out, though. No Siders or dosing or drama. Just a normal night out. She couldn’t deny the temptation. “I mean, where would we go?”

“We?” Libby’s grin was contagious. “So you’re in?”