Eight

If I gave into Carlos, I would lose Ethan.  I wouldn’t allow that.  I let the fear of losing Ethan fill me, robbing Carlos’ need of its potency.  Willfully, I turned my head, trying to dislodge his touch.

The heat in Carlos’ gaze turned to frustration, and his fingers twitched against my cheek.

Suddenly the back door opened, and the car dipped as someone got in.  The door closed again.

“I think you two need a chaperone,” Grey said.

The emotion immediately vanished, and Carlos slowly dropped his hand.  I sagged against the seat and a shaky exhale escaped me.  Grey’s gaze bounced between Carlos and me.

“Did Carlos manage to discuss anything with you?” Grey asked.  “I’m guessing it’s the reason behind the swerve and the sudden stop.”

Neither of us answered.  I wasn’t sure I could talk yet without quavering.

Carlos straightened in his seat, checked his mirrors, then signaled that he was ready to pull out.  A distance ahead of us, I saw the other cars had pulled over as well.

“You two are a chatty pair,” Grey said with humor.

“We’re not a pair,” I said and looked out the window.  I refused to play their little matchmaking game.

Silence reigned for several long minutes.  It was enough time for me to relax and notice Grey’s sadness.

“You’ve been with us a handful of days.  You know we’re different from you, but you haven’t asked any questions.  Aren’t you curious about us?”

“No.”

“I’m curious about you.  Will you tell me about yourself?”

I kept my gaze focused on the horizon.  Damn Ethan for abandoning me with these people.

“What do you want to know?” I asked in a flat voice.

“What’s your favorite color?”

His question surprised me.  I’d expected questions about my power or my relationship with Ethan.

“I don’t know.  Blue?”

Grey laughed.

“You sound like Carlos.  I’m guessing you’ve never given something like that any thought because there were always too many other things that needed your attention.  My favorite color is green.  Blue would be a runner-up.  What about a favorite food?”

That question was easier.

“I don’t have a favorite food.  I have a food trinity.  Pizza, burgers, and cereal.  I could survive forever on all three.”

“Burgers are good,” Grey agreed.  “Have you ever had a fajita?  Those are good, too.  I think my trinity would be Carlos’ fajitas, burgers, and Winifred’s cookies.”

I immediately saw what Grey was doing.  I didn’t want to know anything about Carlos.  I knew enough.  He thought we had some magical connection.  We didn’t.  End of story.

“I appreciate the conversation, but I think I’m going to try to take a nap.  I’m not a fan of long, boring car rides.”

I curled my legs up on the seat and leaned on the window.

*    *    *    *

A sudden burst of worry nudged me from the light doze I’d managed out of sheer boredom.

“Carlos, get ready to turn left.”

Hands settled on my shoulders as the car lurched at Carlos’ sudden turn.  Tires squealed.  My eyes flew open, and my pulse leapt.  I gripped the door as the car’s speed increased significantly before Carlos even straightened the wheel.  The other cars raced just a bit ahead of us.

“What’s going on?”

The hands gave my shoulders a quick squeeze then released me.  I turned to look at Grey as he settled back into his seat.  He gave me a shadow of a reassuring smile.  I wasn’t fooled.  His concern perfumed the air.

“Gabby didn’t like the way they were netting to the north.  She thinks we can pass by to the west.  But it’s a small window, and we need to get there as quickly as possible.”

I stared ahead at the SUV, at Ethan.

“How close are they?”

“Close enough that Carlos is willing to speed.”

I glanced over at the speedometer.  We still drove on back roads.  There weren’t any other cars in sight.  The three vehicles moved in tandem, a little too close given the high speeds.  My grip on the door tightened.

Carlos glanced at me but said nothing.

In the backseat, I felt Grey’s frustration.  “We might not make it.”

“How many are we talking?” I asked. My gaze swept over the tree-studded landscape as I wondered how close they really were.

“Five.”

All my tension melted.  “There are fifteen of us, right?  Why are we freaking out over five Urbat?”

“Right now, none of them know where we are.  If we’re spotted, they’ll all know.”

The next few minutes passed in silence.  We turned twice before hopping onto a highway.  As soon as we hit the ramp, Grey’s worry vanished.

“Now, we were talking about favorite foods, weren’t we?”

I sighed and curled up for another nap.  It didn’t work.

“What kind of music do you like?”

“It depends on my mood.”

“Do you like rainy days or sunny ones?”

“Rainy.”

“Are you a morning person or a late night person?”

“Neither.  I’d rather sleep all day.”  He didn’t take the hint.

“What—”

“Is the point of all these questions?”  I turned to look at Grey.

“You’re only encouraging him,” Carlos said.  I glanced at him.  He watched the road.

Grey’s amusement floated around me.  Too bad for him I was out of patience.

“One more question, and I knock you out.”

Grey winked at me but kept silent.

“How much longer until we get where we’re going?” I asked Carlos.

“A few more hours.”

The car ride from hell...

*    *    *    *

My bladder was ready to burst when we finally turned into the hotel parking lot.  My door was open, and I was out before the car stopped moving.  I beat Emmitt to the door.

“Bathroom?” I said loudly.

The man behind the reception counter looked up and pointed to his left.  I veered in the direction he indicated and closed myself in the small bathroom.

After the day I’d had, I officially disliked werewolves.  And when I found Ethan, I was going to hit him.  Gently.  I’d only leave a tiny bruise.

I finished using the bathroom, washed my hands, and stalked out.  Not only had they deprived me of a bathroom, I was starving.

In the lobby, Carlos stood holding my bag.

“Where’s everyone else?”

“Dropping off their things.  Everyone’s hungry.”

Instead of handing over my bag, he handed me the keycard.  Good.  I’d have two hands free to deal with Ethan.  I glanced at the number on the card then took off in the correct direction.  Our room wasn’t far.  I unlocked the door and pushed it open.  Grey looked up from the bag he had on the foot of his bed.  The room was otherwise empty.  My gaze drifted to the bathroom door.  It was closed.

I marched up to the panel.

“Ethan, get out here.”

His muffled refusal confirmed my suspicion that he was hiding from me.

“I invoke my tenth grade birthday present.”

That sneaky jerk. I pounded on the door in frustration.

“You can’t.  You used it already.  Like, three times.”

“That card had no expiration or number of use limits.”

I slapped the door.  That gift had been my worst mistake.  I’d made a card with a coupon on it.  The holder of this card can piss Isabelle off and not get hit for it.  I’d written it out of guilt because the day before his birthday, he’d tried kissing me for the first time.  And I’d punched him in the face.  Not for the kiss, but the overwhelming flood of teenage-boy horny emotions that had come with it.

“Fine.  Come out.”  I backed away from the door and looked pointedly at Grey and Carlos.

“We’ll wait for you in the lobby,” Carlos said.

Ethan didn’t emerge until the door closed behind the pair.  He eyed me warily.  Looking at him hurt.