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“How am I supposed to explain to Henry who’s helping him?” I asked. “He’s going to be so upset when she fucking disappears again.”
She frowned sympathetically. “One thing at a time, Adam.”
“I can’t handle this.”
“Yes, you can.”
I exhaled heavily while drifting toward the kitchen window. Blue dawn inked its way across the lawn. My entire body ached with the reminder of how much was ahead of me. Infiltrating Domingo’s fortress was going to be the greatest challenge aside from getting to Henry in time. How the hell were we going to pull this off?
Charlotte squeezed my shoulders. “You’re thinking too much.”
“I’m thinking just the right amount.”
“Remember what Lorena said? About me being like… a mother to Henry?” She hesitated, her fingers twitching on my shoulders. “Would that work?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to risk it.”
“Right. Of course.” She pulled her hands back. “I’m sorry. It was just a thought.”
“Yeah, I don’t know about that, Charlotte.”
Her energy prickled the air around me. When I turned around, she was already in the doorway, halfway stepping into the hallway as she whispered, “Sorry I asked.”
“Where are you going?”
“I need a shower. You probably need one, too.”
I offered a gentle smile. “Need company?”
“No.” Even she seemed surprised by her response. But she stuck with it, rubbing her arm as she wandered past the kitchen doorway. “I’ll meet you in the living room in about twenty minutes. Nina is bringing some maps to help us plan our attack.”
“Hey, I didn’t mean—”
But she was gone before I could finish my sentence.
I was left standing in the kitchen with my hand outstretched like an idiot. Confusion swirled in my body, irritating my wolf and inviting a headache to sign my forehead. More coffee. That was the next best thing to do. Food was fuel, so that had to go into the tank, too.
Not hungry, I thought as I grabbed my coffee mug from the counter.Not in the mood for anything.
When I sipped my coffee, I cringed.
It wasn’t warm anymore.
Chapter 16 - Charlotte
The sun barely winked over the horizon when Nina arrived carrying an armful of maps. She carried a few folders under one arm and a duffel bag under the other, her spatial awareness impressive even though it looked like she probably couldn’t see a thing.
She dropped the items on the kitchen table and glanced toward Adam who hadn’t moved from the same spot on the couch for the past hour. She nodded at him while beaming her unspoken inquiry with her eyes.
I shrugged and mouthed the word,Later.
Though I probably wouldn’t get to any truly accurate explanation with her. Even I had no idea what was going on with Adam other than the obvious. His hot and cold game where he reached for me whenever he was stressed was making me feel more like a chew toy than a girlfriend.
I don’t think I ever was his girlfriend, I thought while tightening the cardigan around my shoulders. It was just fluffy enough to hide the mark on my neck. Though it didn’t pass Nina’s inspection, of course. What could possibly do that? She was too observant to be fooled by a little fabric.
Still, she didn’t say anything and I didn’t offer anything more than my usual morning greetings.
Thank the gods she didn’t push like Sasha or Rose.
