“BABY!”
Joan comes running out ofthe den, wearing nothing but a tiny black lace dress and beige furry snow boots that look absurdly out of proportion with the outfit. She greets Tom exactly the way she did at SeaBreeze: a scream, a bit of theater, hanging like a little monkey around his neck.
A second squeal follows, obviously meant for me.
“No! Oh my God! Does Dad know you brought an outsider with you? I swear, Tom, you’re going to be so dead. I need to see this unfold.”
My eyes flick to Tom. He just shrugs, as if he’s already accepted his fate.
Joan’s right. This is a disaster in the making, but I knew that. Still, if there was ever a time I needed protection, it’s now, so I slide a hand over the black stone at my chest.
Joan tiptoes quickly around the car, snow crunching under her massive boots. Her last steps turn into a unicorn gallop before she launches herself at me like a jaguar. I’m left holding her by the thighs as she wraps her legs around my waist.
“Yosh!” She plants a few quick pecks on my cheek.
“Hey Joan, so nice to see you again.”
Struggling for air, I guide her back down to her feet.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” she beams, giving me another quick hug before darting off to Tom. Her fingers slip through his as she drags him into the house. I grab the whiskey, following the disaster duo inside.
Walking through the door, warmth hits me. My eyes take in everything, and it’s a lot: There’s a massive fireplace, two sweeping wooden staircases, and again, a giant wolf above the mantel. Except this one is taxidermied. Which is ofcourse, is highly illegal.
It’s all so warm and inviting, the way a home should be. Yet I know the reality is different. This place isn’t meant for people like me.
An outsider, Joan called me.
“Look who I found on the side of the road!” Joan lifts Tom’s hand into the air like she’s declaring him the champion of a boxing match.
The whole family circus looks up. The murmur dies instantly.
Silence.
Seven pairs of eyes land on me, Calvin and Finn among them.
Tom steps forward. “Hey everyone, this is…Yosh. He, uh—” And then he just stops. Completely.
Before I can think of a lifeline, two arms wrap around me; Joan hugs me from behind.
“This is Tom’s crystal therapist from Arcadia, the one I told you guys about the other day!”
She says it far too enthusiastically, which makes me wonder what exactly she told them, and who she’d told it to
Tom gives her a look that’s gratitude mixed with panic. I just let it all wash over me, exactly as I’d planned on doing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a bouncer type murmuring into the mic at his ear, his eyes refusing to leave me for a second. No doubt that’s Jay’s security guy… What did Tarik call him again?
Right. KGB Guy.
He’s definitely giving off those vibes.
I’m about to speak when I hear footsteps behind me. Quick walking at first, then slowing because this person obviously didn’t expect to find us here.
I turn, and instantly my lungs forget what they’re supposed to do.
Those eyes. His eyes. Same impossible sapphire blue, but not burning wild like Tom’s. Hers are calm, with a hint of something pure. They have a magnetic pull on me and it throws me off. Comfort isn’t supposed to come this easy to me, especially not in a place like this.
“Hi, I’m Effy,” she says with the softest voice. She gives me a friendly smile, but underneath that tone I feel guarded cat energy. She’s reading me the same way I’m reading her.
