back, ââGet in here and make me some dinnerânow, woman.ââ
ââNews flash, Michael, youâre supposed to have turned evil, not redneck!ââ
Claire ripped open the package and upended it, and a small jewelry box slid into her hand. A nice oneâ red velvet, with some kind of gold crest embossed into it. She felt the skin tighten up on the back of her neck. Oh no.
Her suspicions were confirmed as she flipped up the lid and saw the gold bracelet nestled on bloodred velvet. It was pretty, and it wasnât too big; delicate enough to circle one of her small wrists.
The Founderâs Symbol was embossed discreetly in a small gold cartouche.
Oh no.
Claire bit her lip and stared at the bracelet for a long time, then snapped the lid shut, put it back in the envelope, and went to join Eve and Michael in the kitchen.
ââSo?ââ Eve was getting down pots, and Michael was rummaging in the refrigerator. ââSpaghetti okay with you?ââ
ââFine,ââ Claire said. She wondered if she looked spooked. She hoped not, but even if she did, Eve was looking at Michael, and he was looking back, and she was safe from any kind of major inspection while they were making eyes at each other.
Until she turned, and ran into Shane, whoâd come in the kitchen door behind her. The package felt hot and heavy in her right hand, and she took an involuntary step back.
Which hurt him. She saw the flash of it in his eyes. ââHey,ââ he said. ââYou all right?ââ
She nodded, unable to speak, because if she said anything, it would have to be a lie. Shane stepped closer and put a warm hand on her face; it felt good, so very good that she leaned into it, then further, into his arms. He made her feel small and loved, and for just a second, what was in the package in her hand didnât matter.
ââYouâre working too hard,ââ he said. ââYou look pale. School okay?ââ
ââSchoolâs fine,ââ she said. That wasnât a lie, school was definitely not what scared her anymore. ââI guess I need more sleep.ââ
ââJust a few more days until the weekend.ââ He kissed the top of her head, bent closer, and whispered, ââMy room. I need to talk to you.ââ
She blinked, but he was already stepping back and heading out the door. She looked over her shoulder at Eve and Michael, but they were happily talking as Eve adjusted the flame under the pots, and they hadnât noticed anything.
Claire shoved the package into her backpack, zipped it up, and followed Shane upstairs.
Shaneâs room was very utilitarianâhis bed was never made, though he made an attempt as she came in to straighten out the sheets and toss the blanket over it. A couple of posters on the wall, nothing special. No photos, no mementos. He didnât spend a lot of time here, except to sleep. Most of his stuff was crammed into the closet.
Claire leaned her backpack against the wall and sat down next to him on the bed. ââWhat?ââ she asked. If sheâd expected a wild predinner make-out session, she was disappointed. He didnât even put his arm around her.
ââIâm thinking of leaving,ââ he said.
ââLeaving? But Eveâs making dinnerâââ
He turned and made eye contact. ââLeaving Morganville.ââ
She felt a surge of utter panic. ââNo. You canât!ââ ââDone it before. Look, this place, itâsâI didnât come back here because I missed it. I came back because my dad sent me, and now that heâs been and gone and Iâm not doing his dirty work anymore . . .ââ Shaneâs eyes were begging her to understand. ââI want a life, Claire. And you donât belong here. You canât stay.
ââNews flash, Michael, youâre supposed to have turned evil, not redneck!ââ
Claire ripped open the package and upended it, and a small jewelry box slid into her hand. A nice oneâ red velvet, with some kind of gold crest embossed into it. She felt the skin tighten up on the back of her neck. Oh no.
Her suspicions were confirmed as she flipped up the lid and saw the gold bracelet nestled on bloodred velvet. It was pretty, and it wasnât too big; delicate enough to circle one of her small wrists.
The Founderâs Symbol was embossed discreetly in a small gold cartouche.
Oh no.
Claire bit her lip and stared at the bracelet for a long time, then snapped the lid shut, put it back in the envelope, and went to join Eve and Michael in the kitchen.
ââSo?ââ Eve was getting down pots, and Michael was rummaging in the refrigerator. ââSpaghetti okay with you?ââ
ââFine,ââ Claire said. She wondered if she looked spooked. She hoped not, but even if she did, Eve was looking at Michael, and he was looking back, and she was safe from any kind of major inspection while they were making eyes at each other.
Until she turned, and ran into Shane, whoâd come in the kitchen door behind her. The package felt hot and heavy in her right hand, and she took an involuntary step back.
Which hurt him. She saw the flash of it in his eyes. ââHey,ââ he said. ââYou all right?ââ
She nodded, unable to speak, because if she said anything, it would have to be a lie. Shane stepped closer and put a warm hand on her face; it felt good, so very good that she leaned into it, then further, into his arms. He made her feel small and loved, and for just a second, what was in the package in her hand didnât matter.
ââYouâre working too hard,ââ he said. ââYou look pale. School okay?ââ
ââSchoolâs fine,ââ she said. That wasnât a lie, school was definitely not what scared her anymore. ââI guess I need more sleep.ââ
ââJust a few more days until the weekend.ââ He kissed the top of her head, bent closer, and whispered, ââMy room. I need to talk to you.ââ
She blinked, but he was already stepping back and heading out the door. She looked over her shoulder at Eve and Michael, but they were happily talking as Eve adjusted the flame under the pots, and they hadnât noticed anything.
Claire shoved the package into her backpack, zipped it up, and followed Shane upstairs.
Shaneâs room was very utilitarianâhis bed was never made, though he made an attempt as she came in to straighten out the sheets and toss the blanket over it. A couple of posters on the wall, nothing special. No photos, no mementos. He didnât spend a lot of time here, except to sleep. Most of his stuff was crammed into the closet.
Claire leaned her backpack against the wall and sat down next to him on the bed. ââWhat?ââ she asked. If sheâd expected a wild predinner make-out session, she was disappointed. He didnât even put his arm around her.
ââIâm thinking of leaving,ââ he said.
ââLeaving? But Eveâs making dinnerâââ
He turned and made eye contact. ââLeaving Morganville.ââ
She felt a surge of utter panic. ââNo. You canât!ââ ââDone it before. Look, this place, itâsâI didnât come back here because I missed it. I came back because my dad sent me, and now that heâs been and gone and Iâm not doing his dirty work anymore . . .ââ Shaneâs eyes were begging her to understand. ââI want a life, Claire. And you donât belong here. You canât stay.
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