“Hey, sweetheart,” I said, kissing her forehead. “Hey, wake up.”

  As she started to whimper, my stomach clenched. What the fuck was she dreaming about?

  Chapter 11

  Kara

  I knew it was a dream, but I couldn’t escape it. I’d never been able to wake myself up when the dreams happened, I just had to relive them until they came to a natural end. I hated it. They always followed a similar path, the good memories turning into nightmares and the bad memories playing out with stunning clarity.

  I stood in the hallway after school, grabbing stuff from my locker. I tried not to ever have to stay after school, but I’d bombed a test in World History and the teacher had let me make it up. Unfortunately, that meant that I was still around when football practice ended. I froze as voices came from around the corner. As I hurried to pack up, they grew closer.

  “Hey Kara,” one of the guys sang, striding down the hallway toward me. “Lookin’ good.”

  “Real good,” another one said. “You feel like gettin’ out of here?”

  He stood right behind me and I wished the ground would swallow me whole. It didn’t happen every day, but more often than not, one of the group would find a way to corner me.

  “No, thanks,” I replied, shutting my locker.

  I froze as his hand smoothed down my back, coming to rest right above my ass.

  “You sure?” I could feel his breath against the back of my neck as he leaned in. “It’ll be fun.”

  “I’m sure,” I said firmly, scooting around him.

  “Hey, where you goin’?” he asked, his hand reaching out to grip my ponytail. The hold was light enough that it didn’t hurt, but firm enough to scare me shitless.

  “I need to get home,” I said, not making eye contact.

  I’d learned over the last year that eye contact just made them bolder. It was like the moment I looked them in the face, they took it as a challenge. I fisted my hands in the straps of my backpack to keep them from shaking, sure at any moment that things would escalate.

  “Nah, you don’t need to get home yet,” he said. “Come hang out with us.”

  “We’re closin’ up the school,” the janitor said as she came out of a classroom. “You all need to head out.”

  “We’re going,” another one of the group said as the boys snickered.

  “Then go,” the janitor ordered.

  I stayed in place until the boys had moved further down the hall and banged open the front door, then jostled and pushed each other through it.

  “Thanks,” I said, looking over at the janitor. Her name was Marie and I’d seen her around, but we’d never had an actual conversation before.

  “You give me a minute and I’ll walk you out,” she replied, watching the boys go. “You got a ride home?”

  “I drove,” I said, walking with her as she put away her vacuum in a closet.

  “I’ll walk you to your car then,” she said, glancing at me. “I might be small, but boys like that don’t mess with old ladies like me.”

  “Lucky,” I murmured.

  “They’re little shits,” she said, surprising me. “Every school has ’em, going back to the beginning of time.”

  I nodded.

  “You be careful,” she said.

  That night, I had Rose cut my hair to my chin. It didn’t change anything, really. The harassment didn’t stop until I’d graduated and didn’t have to encounter any of them at school anymore. But no one ever grabbed me by the ponytail again.

  I gasped as I woke up. My first thought was that I needed to go for a run, the second was that I had a very large, very concerned Draco in my bed, and we were naked.

  “You alright?” he asked, brushing away the hair that had gotten tangled around my face. “You had a nightmare.”

  “Yeah, I know,” I said with a grunt. I relaxed into his body, even though every molecule in mine was urging me to get up and get dressed. “I’m okay.”

  “You get those a lot?” He was looking at me intently and I hoped he couldn’t tell I was lying my ass off when I answered.

  “Not really,” I said with a shrug. “Every once in a while.”

  “I get ’em, too,” he confessed with an embarrassed smile. “What are yours about?”

  “They’re generic,” I replied, keeping the lie as close to the truth as I could. “You know, someone’s chasing me or whatever. Sometimes it’s just pitch black and I’m in a room and I can’t find a door.”

  A month later, I’d been locked in that same janitor’s closet until Marie let me out. After that, she’d always left the light on inside.

  “What are yours about?” I asked quietly.

  I felt like shit when he answered.

  “Memories mostly,” he said. “My friend I told you guys about—Bishop? He got beat real bad when he first showed up. I stepped in, but he was pretty messed up before I ended it. I relive that sometimes.”

  “Oh,” I said softly.

  “It doesn’t happen a lot,” he said, giving me a squeeze. “Just once in a while.”

  “I can hear you two talking,” Charlie called from outside the door, startling me. “You awake?”

  “Do you think if we don’t answer, she’ll leave?” Draco whispered.

  “Not likely,” I whispered back.

  “I can still hear you,” Charlie called. “We’ve got dinner at my sister’s house, remember? Get up and put some clothes on!”

  “How do you know we don’t have clothes on?” I called back.

  Charlie turned the handle on the door and pushed it open an inch.

  “Shut the door!” me and Draco yelled at the same time.

  “Knew it,” Charlie said, slamming the door closed again. “Get dressed, lovebirds.”

  “You want to go over to Lily’s with us?” I asked, sitting up in bed. I stretched my arms above my head. Even with the nightmare, I felt completely rested. I’d needed the nap.

  “Yeah, I’ll go with ya,” Draco said, leaning back, his arms crossed behind his head.

  “Are you going to get dressed?” I asked as I stood and reached for my clothes.

  “Just enjoying the show first,” he teased.

  I grinned as I pulled on my underwear. “You know, with you laying like that, I want to tickle you so bad.”

  “Don’t even try it,” he warned.

  When I gave a small lunge for the bed, his arms shot down to his sides. I couldn’t help but laugh. He got me back a few minutes later when he pinched my ass while I was putting my tank top on.

  It felt good, being there with him. I’d forgotten how light he made me feel. Like I was on a permanent vacation or something. I ignored the little niggling thought in the back of my mind that it couldn’t last. I was walking a tightrope and I knew it, but I just…couldn’t stop myself. Now that the dam had broken, I couldn’t stop the water.

  “I’m ready,” I said, turning toward Draco as I brushed out my hair. “You ready?”

  “Damn, that was quick,” he said as he opened my bedroom door. “Used to take you hours.”

  “I grew up,” I said with a shrug as I led him out of the bedroom.

  “She stopped wearing makeup,” Charlie clarified, standing right outside my door.

  “Jesus,” I said, jerking to a stop. “I need to put a bell on you or something. Eavesdropper.”

  “And she doesn’t do shit with her hair,” Charlie continued, ignoring me. “And she’s got a fucking capsule wardrobe. Don’t ask me what that is, because I don’t have a fucking clue.”

  “It means all my clothes go together,” I said in exasperation, following her down the hall. “So I don’t have a bunch of shit that doesn’t match. It makes things easy.”

  “Makes things boring as fuck, you mean,” Charlie shot back.

  “Draco, how many pairs of jeans do you have?” I asked, turning to look at him. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

  “Uh, five or six,” he answered slowly.

  “Shirts?” I continued.

  “Ten?”

  “I bet they all go together, huh?”

  “Uh.”

  “You can wear any pair of jeans with any of the shirts, right?” I clarified.

  “They’re jeans and tees,” he replied.

  “See,” I said, turning back to Charlie. “Draco has a capsule wardrobe, too.”

  “Draco’s a dude,” Charlie said with a laugh. “He doesn’t count.”

  “We goin’ to Leo’s?” Draco asked as me and Charlie glared at each other.

  “Yeah, let’s go,” I said, grabbing my wallet and keys. “We can take the Jeep.”

  “I’m drivin’,” Draco said as he led us out of the apartment.

  I immediately started coughing. Shit, I’d forgotten my mask.

  “Dammit,” Draco grumbled as he hurried us toward the Jeep.

  I tossed him the keys as we reached it and climbed into the front seat as soon as it was unlocked.

  “I can’t believe you’re letting him drive,” Charlie said with a chuckle. “Twenty-four hours and you’re already the old lady.”

  “Shut it,” I shot back. “New rule—if you’re in the back, you don’t get to talk.”

  “You guys always fight like this?” Draco asked with a laugh as he started the Jeep.

  “No,” I said.

  “Yes,” Charlie said at the same time.

  “Good to know,” he said under his breath.

  “She’s doing it on purpose,” I said as we got on the road. “Just to irritate me.”

  “Now why would I do that?” Charlie asked.

  “Back seat,” I said, turning to point at her. “No talking.”

  “You better put that finger away,” she shot back.

  “Whatcha gonna do about it?” I asked, wiggling my pointer finger.

  “Jesus,” Draco said, turning his head to look at me. “You two are like an old married couple.”

  “We spend too much time together,” I said with a huff, turning back toward the front.

  I locked my fingers together and put them in my lap. Normally, I didn’t let Charlie get to me. She had always been the one to push everyone’s buttons-it was just her personality and I actually kind of loved her for it. She said things that no one else would and didn’t give a single fuck about the consequences. It was hilarious most of the time. But I was anxious after the dream I’d had, and the longer Draco and I were together outside my little bedroom, the more nervous I became that some outside force was going to bring everything to the surface.

  We were safe alone inside my room. It was the outside world that scared me. Going over to Lily’s, where everyone was bound to show up, was making me nervous.

  “You alright?” Draco asked, setting his hand down on my thigh. “You got quiet.”

  “I’m okay,” I lied, putting my hand on top of his.

  When we got to Lily’s, there were already a few cars parked in the driveway and on the street. Both my and Charlie’s parents were there, and so were Amy and Poet. Amy’s little hybrid looked so funny surrounded by big SUVs and motorcycles, but she refused to get rid of it. I loved it. Especially the little decals on the back window, the outlines of a curvy naked woman and a grizzled old man with a walking stick.

  “Lily better have made something good,” Charlie said as we parked. “I’m hungry.”

  “Your sister always makes good food,” I replied. “Better than anything we could’ve gotten at home.”

  “We should probably get some lessons or something,” Charlie joked as we got out of the car. “Eventually, we’re gonna be old enough that they expect us to cook.”

  “Bite your tongue,” I joked as we hurried for the front door. “I don’t want people coming over. You can never get them to leave.”

  “Amen, sister,” Charlie said, throwing open the front door. “We’re here!”

  “Aunt Charlie! Draco!” Gray shouted, throwing his arms up in the air. He tipped the tiny lawn chair he was sitting in and lost his balance, landing flat on his back. “I’m okay!”

  “Grayson, get out of your sister’s chair!” Lily called from across the house. “That’s the third time you’ve tipped it over today.”

  “Come here, you little hellion,” Charlie said, grinning.

  “What am I, chopped liver?” I asked in disgust as Gray ignored me completely.

  “Someone’s got a crush,” Lily said conspiratorially as she came over to us. She hugged me hello, holding me for an extra second longer than anyone else would have. I relaxed. This was why Lily was everyone’s favorite.

  “He better not try to steal my girl,” Draco joked, accepting his own hug from Lily. “How ya doin,’ Auntie?”

  “Better than you,” she said, leaning back to look at him. “Yikes.”

  “Barely even hurts,” Draco lied.

  “I didn’t invite your parents or Curt,” Lily said, rolling her eyes. “You’re welcome.”

  “You’re the best.”

  “I can’t promise they won’t just show up, though,” Lily said with a shrug. “You think you can keep your cool?”

  My stomach clenched.

  “I can for you,” Draco said charmingly.

  “You’re full of shit,” Lily replied, laughing. She got distracted by someone calling her name and strode off, so Draco and I made the rounds, saying hello to everyone.

  “Let me look at you,” Draco’s great grandma, Amy, said, lifting her hands to cup my cheeks. “You look happy.”

  I smiled.

  “And scared,” she said softly. She rubbed her thumb over the apple of my cheek.

  “I’m okay,” I replied.

  “And a liar,” she said with a small smile, lifting an eyebrow. “Just remember that anything worth having is a little scary.”

  “Let go of the lass,” Draco’s great grandpa, Poet, said from his seat. “I want a turn.”

  Amy huffed, but smiled as she let me go.

  “Hey, Poet,” I said, leaning down to give the old man a hug.

  “Hello, darlin’,” he said, patting my back. “How you doin’?”

  “I’m good,” I replied as I pulled away. “Ready for these fires to get under control, though.”

  “You and me both,” he said with a chuckle. “This smoke is hell on these old lungs.”

  “You’re not old,” I teased. “You’re seasoned.”

  Poet laughed. “Seasoned. I like that.”

  “Are you flirting with my great gramps?” Draco joked. “With my nan right there? Bold.”

  “She wants him, she can have him,” Amy said with a chuckle.

  “You be careful,” Poet said to me. “She talks a good game, but she’s a possessive one.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied.

  “You get it handled?” Poet asked Draco.

  “All good, Gramps,” Draco replied, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

  “Good boy,” Poet said with a wink.

  “Did he just wink at you?” I asked as Draco led me toward the kitchen.

  “Don’t you worry about that,” Draco replied dismissively. I elbowed him in the side, making him laugh.

  “There’s my baby girl,” Farrah called out as we reached the kitchen.

  “I’m pretty sure that one’s mine,” Rose corrected dryly.

  “Tomato, tomahto,” Farrah said with a wave of her hand. “They’re both mine and they’re both yours.”

  Rose chuckled. “I guess that’s fair.” She leaned over and gave Charlie, who’d beaten us to the kitchen, a loud kiss on the side of her head.

  “They’ve got a head start,” Charlie said to me, nodding toward the drinks on the table.

  “I see that,” I replied.

  “Pick your poison,” Farrah said to me. “We’ve got everything except Jaeger.”

  “The guys are in the garage,” Lily told Draco as she passed us. “Escape while you can.”

  “I’ll stick to soda for now,” I told Farrah. She and Rose complained in unison as Draco leaned down to whisper in my ear.

  “I’ll be back in a bit,” he said, kissing the spot below my ear as I nodded.

  “They’re cute,” Farrah announced as Draco walked away. “Aren’t they cute?”

  “Adorable,” Charlie said dryly, pouring vodka over ice.

  “Yeah, yeah,” I said, pulling out a chair so I could sit with them.

  “It’s weird,” Rose said, looking at me while she wrinkled her nose. “Am I supposed to give you boy advice or something?”

  “I think that ship has sailed,” Farrah said with a cackle.

  “Well, she’s never really dated or anything,” Rose said. She looked at me. “You know where babies come from, right?”

  “Oh, God,” I muttered.

  “When two people love each other very much—” Rose said.

  “They don’t have to love each other,” Lily pointed out, cutting her off.

  “Right,” Rose said, nodding as she pointed to her best friend. “You’re right.”

  “If I didn’t already know where babies come from, living with Charlie would’ve educated me,” I said dryly, making the entire table roar with laughter.

  “How the fuck did you manage to drag me into this?” Charlie exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air.

  “You’re being safe, right?” Farrah asked, looking surprisingly serious.

  “Jesus, Farrah,” Charlie said, throwing back her drink.

  “Mom,” Farrah corrected, looking at Charlie expectantly.

  “Yes, I’m safe,” Charlie shot back. “I thought we were talking about how cute Kara and Draco are?”

  “Oh, they are,” Farrah said, dropping her chin onto her hands as she looked at me dreamily.

  “I change my mind on the drink,” I said, getting up from the table to grab a soda out of the fridge. “I’ll take some whiskey in my coke.”

  “Atta girl,” Farrah said.

  Lily rubbed my back as I passed her.

  “Where did all the kids go?” I asked.

  “I sent them out to the garage with the guys,” she said with sneaky smile. “They can deal with them for a while.”

  “Leo will probably have them cleaning engine parts, assembly line-style,” I said as she handed me a glass with ice in it.

  “Whatever keeps them occupied,” she replied with a shrug.