“I don’t understand,” he said with a frown of his own. “Even when you were poisoned and drugged out, I saw something.”
Yeah. Us kissing, he’d said. “This is weird.” And I never would have guessed I would think not having a vision was weird. My arms fell to my sides, slapping at my thighs. “Unless…maybe we don’t have anything we need to avoid today.”
Scowling, he said, “You just had to go there, didn’t you? Throwing my words in my face.”
“I wasn’t—” Well, crap. I was, wasn’t I? “Well, you have only yourself to blame. I thought you liked my vengeful side.”
The front door opened, and Nana peeked out. She spotted Cole and eyed him up and down. “I thought I heard two voices out here.”
I jumped away from him as if someone had wrapped a rope around my waist and pulled. “Uh, hi, Nana. This is Cole.”
“Another friend?”
“Yes. He’s from school. He’s driving me.”
“Not without talking to me and your grandfather, he’s not.” Uh, oh. She had just used the same stern tone she’d used with Justin. “Inside, you two. Now.”
The door to the house shut, the ensuing bang echoing in my head. Cole tried to follow her, but I grabbed his wrist.
“I’m sorry,” I said, and I wasn’t sure whether I was apologizing for what was about to happen or for what had already happened.
He pried my fingers from him, then wrapped his arm around me and tugged me back into the line of his body. “Forget it. I deserved it. For the record, I don’t think the visions are things we need to avoid.”
I considered the journal. “I stand by my guess that they’re glimpses of the future.”
“Maybe. Probably.”
Somehow, I caught the words he didn’t say: that would mean we had no future today. I dug my nails into his chest, and I peered up at him with wide eyes.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. You’re still recovering, and I’m sure that’s the only problem.”
“All right.” I would believe him.
He kissed my temple, an offer of comfort, before flattening his hands on my shoulders and forcing me to spin. “Let’s go in before your grandparents come out and drag me in, then decide to lock you in your room for your own protection.”
I sent up a silent prayer that no slang would be used, no accusations of drinking and having sex would be hurled, and everyone would walk away smiling.
Nana and Pops were waiting in the living room. They had their recliners pushed in front of the couch, the only place available for Cole and me to sit. The moment we were in position, the interrogation began.
Pops: Plans for the future?
Groaning, I dropped my head in my hands. He’d kicked things off with Justin the exact same way. Guaranteed, he’d end the same way.
Cole: College, law enforcement.
Nana: Oh, I like him better than that other boy already.
Pops: Good, that’s good. Now finish this sentence for me. When a girl says no, she means…
Yep. Exactly the same.
Cole: No. And that’s that. I don’t push for more.
Nana: Another excellent answer. But here’s an even tougher sentence for you to finish. Premarital sex is…
I should have let the zombies have me.
Cole: Up to the couple. What happens between them is no one else’s business. Sorry, but not even yours.
Both Pops and Nana blustered over that for a minute, but they soon calmed down. I, of course, blushed the most horrifying shade of lobster. (That was just a guess.) However, I found Cole’s answer exceptional.
Pops: That’s fair enough, I guess. So how do you feel about drinking and driving?
Cole: I think it’s stupid, and that’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about with me and Ali. I never drink, and if she does, I won’t take advantage of her. I’ll bring her home. I’ll always look out for her safety, you have my word.
“I won’t be drinking, either,” I said. “Ever.”
Nana: Aren’t you just a breath of fresh air?
Pops: He is. He is indeed.
I think I was as impressed with him as my grandparents were. Underneath the muscles, scars and tattoos (which my grandparents couldn’t see, since he wore a long-sleeved shirt) he was a really good guy. And because they were so impressed, they let us go with no more fuss!
We stopped for a coffee to help wake me up, and still made it to school with time to spare. After he parked in the same slot he’d occupied before—I guess no one wanted to fight him for it—he tossed his hat in the backseat, whipped off his long-sleeved shirt, revealing a short-sleeved shirt underneath, then helped me out of his Jeep.
My stitches felt too tight today, every movement causing the skin around them to itch. “I can’t believe we survived that.”