that if we never mentioned it, he might just forget. Cats aren’t renowned for their long memories, after all.
Sera and I waited, feeling more useless by the hour. By the third morning, I felt ready to climb outside my own skin. The agitation pulled at my center, at that ball of energy that rested quietly in my core, just waiting for a chance to spring to life. It demanded release. I hoped ignoring it would cause it to quiet and atrophy, but I feared the opposite was true. I suspected it would only grow louder until I sated it with action.
And so, when Sera exploded from her room on that third morning, hair wild from sleep and eyes bleary from lack of caffeine but still a bundle of pure energy, I understood the force that motivated her when she announced, “Screw this. We’re doing something today.” It was the same force coiled within me, familiar and foreign at the same time.
“Back to the lake or the river?” I suggested, with little hope that we’d find anything in either spot.
She shook her head, clearly sharing my doubt. “I think we exhausted those. Think if we camp on their doorsteps, the families will finally open their doors?”
“We could maybe stop at a costume shop for some bear or cat ears. Might make them more accepting of our presence.”
She was amused by the thought. “While my sexy cat has served me well at more than one Halloween party, I don’t think it’ll work quite as well on Carmen.”
“You know, if it ever comes down to a fight between you two, I’m not sure who I’d put money on. I mean, you, obviously, cause of the whole loyalty thing and the way you could set her on fire, but otherwise it would be a hard call. That woman scares me.”
“It’s the claws. She’d be hell in a slap fight.”
“Fair point.” The conversation tapered off into comfortable silence, both of us trying to come up with a plan that was only somewhat ridiculous. I got there first. My idea was still mostly ridiculous, but it was the only one we had.
“Get dressed, Sera. Something casual and, er, hot.” She simply looked at me, her scornful expression suggesting she was always hot, regardless of her outfit. “We’re going back to school.”
CHAPTER 8
“I assume your plan is more complex than we sit outside a public school until someone arrests us for loitering in a suspicious manner? Cause I had plans today that didn’t involve ending up on a sex offender registry.”
We were parked across from the square mass of brick and concrete that formed the local high school. It was the sort of utilitarian building built for function rather than design, the city planners unwilling to shell out any money for unnecessary architecture. At the moment, it was silent, and we could only wait impatiently for the lunch bell to ring.
“I thought we might be able to get Brandon to open up a bit more if we got him on his own, away from his family. From what I’ve heard, siblings know secrets that would horrify parents, so we need to know what he knows. And I’m hoping he’ll be more forthcoming if he’s talking to an attractive woman.”
Sera nodded slowly. “You remember I did my best to scare the actual bejeesus out of him when we met, right?”
I was unconcerned. “He’s a teenage boy. Fear and attraction go hand in hand.”
“I just want to be clear about this. Am I wearing my extra tight jeans to seduce Mac’s teenaged cousin?”
“Seduce is such a strong word. I was thinking charm. Cajole, perhaps.”
“Why did I get assigned this particular task?”
I shrugged. “Hey, you always say you’re the hot one. If you’re willing to relinquish that title...”
“Please. I’ve seen your recent attempts at flirtation. If we want the kid to fall down laughing, you’re our go-to girl.” She sighed, a big, dramatic exhalation that let me know how put-upon she felt. “Until you get your mojo back, call me Mrs. Robinson.”
“Hey. My mojo is working just fine.”
“Really? How’s
Sera and I waited, feeling more useless by the hour. By the third morning, I felt ready to climb outside my own skin. The agitation pulled at my center, at that ball of energy that rested quietly in my core, just waiting for a chance to spring to life. It demanded release. I hoped ignoring it would cause it to quiet and atrophy, but I feared the opposite was true. I suspected it would only grow louder until I sated it with action.
And so, when Sera exploded from her room on that third morning, hair wild from sleep and eyes bleary from lack of caffeine but still a bundle of pure energy, I understood the force that motivated her when she announced, “Screw this. We’re doing something today.” It was the same force coiled within me, familiar and foreign at the same time.
“Back to the lake or the river?” I suggested, with little hope that we’d find anything in either spot.
She shook her head, clearly sharing my doubt. “I think we exhausted those. Think if we camp on their doorsteps, the families will finally open their doors?”
“We could maybe stop at a costume shop for some bear or cat ears. Might make them more accepting of our presence.”
She was amused by the thought. “While my sexy cat has served me well at more than one Halloween party, I don’t think it’ll work quite as well on Carmen.”
“You know, if it ever comes down to a fight between you two, I’m not sure who I’d put money on. I mean, you, obviously, cause of the whole loyalty thing and the way you could set her on fire, but otherwise it would be a hard call. That woman scares me.”
“It’s the claws. She’d be hell in a slap fight.”
“Fair point.” The conversation tapered off into comfortable silence, both of us trying to come up with a plan that was only somewhat ridiculous. I got there first. My idea was still mostly ridiculous, but it was the only one we had.
“Get dressed, Sera. Something casual and, er, hot.” She simply looked at me, her scornful expression suggesting she was always hot, regardless of her outfit. “We’re going back to school.”
CHAPTER 8
“I assume your plan is more complex than we sit outside a public school until someone arrests us for loitering in a suspicious manner? Cause I had plans today that didn’t involve ending up on a sex offender registry.”
We were parked across from the square mass of brick and concrete that formed the local high school. It was the sort of utilitarian building built for function rather than design, the city planners unwilling to shell out any money for unnecessary architecture. At the moment, it was silent, and we could only wait impatiently for the lunch bell to ring.
“I thought we might be able to get Brandon to open up a bit more if we got him on his own, away from his family. From what I’ve heard, siblings know secrets that would horrify parents, so we need to know what he knows. And I’m hoping he’ll be more forthcoming if he’s talking to an attractive woman.”
Sera nodded slowly. “You remember I did my best to scare the actual bejeesus out of him when we met, right?”
I was unconcerned. “He’s a teenage boy. Fear and attraction go hand in hand.”
“I just want to be clear about this. Am I wearing my extra tight jeans to seduce Mac’s teenaged cousin?”
“Seduce is such a strong word. I was thinking charm. Cajole, perhaps.”
“Why did I get assigned this particular task?”
I shrugged. “Hey, you always say you’re the hot one. If you’re willing to relinquish that title...”
“Please. I’ve seen your recent attempts at flirtation. If we want the kid to fall down laughing, you’re our go-to girl.” She sighed, a big, dramatic exhalation that let me know how put-upon she felt. “Until you get your mojo back, call me Mrs. Robinson.”
“Hey. My mojo is working just fine.”
“Really? How’s
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