A feeble excuse.He knew it.
He grinned.“That’s ok.You won’t need clothes.”
Heat crawled up my neck and settled into my cheeks and I was profoundly grateful it was dark so he couldn’t see.
“Owen…”
“Stay with me tonight.”He pressed his forehead against mine.“The queens will be all right.They’re watching the Science Channel.”
And the thought of that made me snicker.Still, I had objections.
“But I… have the shop.”
“Take the day off.”
He was persistent.I swallowed hard.
How could I resist him?
“Okay but you take me home first thing in the morning.”
“Mm.You drive a hard bargain, lady.”
I smiled.“And you’re persistent.”
“It’s one of my better qualities,” he said.
He released me to retrieve the Sun Disk.I watched with relief flooding me.I may not have permanently closed the Crossroads—but I’d bought us time.
One thought kept circling back, quiet and persistent under all the relief.
There’s someone you need to meet.
Who?The question burrowed in despite everything else.Garrat had dangled it like bait, which meant I probably shouldn’t want the answer.But Alice had hidden me my whole life.From what, from whom—I still didn’t fully know.My father was out there somewhere.And Garrat, apparently, knew exactly where.
That was either very useful or very dangerous.
Probably both.
As he took my hand and I followed him in the dark, I had only one thought.If I could survive the Crossroads, I could survive whatever came next.
Hickory Hollow.The magic.The fight still ahead of me.
And Owen McAllister.
Chapter Thirty
Morningpressedagainstthebedroom windows, washing the room in soft gray light with the promise of day.
I didn’t sleep much.How could I when I was tucked into bed with the one person who seemed determined to keep me for himself?Owen hardly let me go all night.
And lying there beneath his ceiling, his arm heavy across me, it was impossible not to acknowledge what had taken root between us—the safety, the steadiness, the way he’d stood beside me at the Crossroads and shielded me when he didn’t have to.
In high school, I’d wanted Owen to notice me.I think he did, in his own shy way.I think he held himself back because I’d been so vocal about leaving Hickory Hollow for my big-city-glam life.
But I was back now.
I wasn’t leaving.
