Daniel laughed, too. “I guess we could do the walk of shame together into the cafeteria around lunchtime.”
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of.” I pulled off the sheet covering my legs and scooted to the edge of my bed, closer to where Daniel stood. I bit my lip, not quite sure I was ready to address the issue that played on my mind. “The conditions I mentioned earlier … ? That night in the warehouse, when we were locked in Caleb’s dungeon. What do you remember happening?”
“Only bits and pieces. My memory is so fragmented. Like I’ve got a puzzle in my head that needs to be put together, but I’m missing half the pieces.”
“Do you remember asking me … ?”
To marry you? I couldn’t finish the question out loud. What if he hadn’t really meant to ask? What if he’d done it only out of panic, to try to keep me from losing hope for the future? What if he didn’t remember asking in the first place? What if he thought I was completely crazy for claiming he had?
Daniel stepped closer. Leaning in, he pressed his hands against the sides of my legs. My skin tingled uncontrollably in response.
“Do I remember what?” he asked.
My heart sank in my chest, realizing I was engaged to someone who didn’t even remember asking. Who maybe hadn’t even really wanted to ask. Maybe his memory had blocked it out on purpose.
“Nothing,” I said, and started to pull away.
“No, Gracie.” Daniel grabbed my arms. An expression of pain crossed his face as he pulled me up so I was standing in front of him, gripping me tightly so I couldn’t run away. “Whatever it is you wanted to ask me is important. I can see it on your face. Don’t hide anything from me. That’s not how we work. Not anymore. We’re in this together. No matter what.”
I could tell he meant it. So maybe the idea of our being engaged wouldn’t be too crazy, even if he had no recollection of it. “It’s just that … when we were locked up … you asked me … What the hell?” I jumped back and smacked my hip on the foot of my bed. My hearing had pricked at the sound of an unexpected noise, stopping me from finishing what I was about to say.
Daniel laughed and let go of my arms. “That’s an odd thing for me to ask.”
I held my hand up to quiet him and then concentrated my powers into my hearing. I felt a slight pop in my eardrums, and my hearing increased just in time to catch the noise again. I knew exactly what it was this time—the sound of a car door opening and closing. Out in my driveway.
Then another noise, one I never would have heard without my powers: a key being slipped into the lock of the front door downstairs.
Daniel’s eyes widened. He’d heard it, too. “Who … ?” he whispered.
“I don’t know.” My muscles tensed. “My parents are both in the hospital…”
A creaking noise accompanied the opening of the front door. Then footsteps as someone crossed the threshold. Anxious power tingled under my skin. Who could be inside my house? How could they even get a key?
Suddenly, I pictured Caleb and a gang of his boys entering my house. Coming for us at last…
“James, don’t drag your blanket,” I heard a voice call.
A sigh of relief rippled through me. “Aunt Carol,” I said to Daniel. I jogged over to the window and saw her yellow Subaru parked in the driveway with its trunk open. I watched as Charity pulled a duffel bag from the back, and Baby James dragged his blanket across the leaf-strewn grass. “And she’s brought Charity and James. I told her not to come here.”
“You’re related. I’m not surprised that she didn’t listen,” Daniel said with a quiet laugh.
“Hey,” I whispered loudly. “That’s justified … but how am I going to explain the half-naked guy in my bedroom?”
“Just tell her the truth.” He shrugged overdramatically, his hands turned up. “Werewolves are always naked when they turn back into human.”
“Ha. Ha.” I gave him a “Not appreciated” look, but I couldn’t help smiling.