Page 85 of Fangs and Fudge

No one spoke on the way back to D.C. I caught Shepard watching me a few times, though. Once we dropped off Miles, the reprieve was at an end.

“Are we going to talk about why Cross was at the Hunters’ or, better yet, why he was in your bed this morning?” Shepard asked.

He didn’t sound angry exactly, but there was something in his tone that made me feel like I was in trouble. Yet, I knew I’d done nothing wrong.

“Technically, he was in my bed,” Vena said. “And I don’t know why we need to talk about who I invite into my bed. I’m an adult with full mental capacity to make my own decisions even if you disagree with them. Same for Everly. Right, Ev?”

I tipped my head back and closed my eyes. “I’m not doing this.”

“Doing what?” Shepard asked.

“Choosing a side. I don’t want to choose. And if the people in my life keep pushing, I’m going to lose my patience. No one will be happy with the result of that. So, let’s just relax and enjoy the car ride home.”

No one spoke, and I took that silence as agreement.

Doc was waiting outside the house when we pulled up in front of it, and Shepard was out of the car as soon as Vena parked. I watched Shepard say something to Doc.

“What has his panties in a twist?” Vena asked, reaching for her door.

“People get upset when faced with a truth they want to ignore.”

“What truth?”

“That Cross isn’t the evil monster Shepard wanted him to be.”

We both got out of the car as MC’s truck rumbled to a stop behind Vena’s.

When he jumped out and Vena’s head snapped in his direction, I quickly ushered her toward the house. Doc wrinkled his nose as we passed.

“I’m going to shower and nap,” I said as he followed us inside. “No waking me.”

“What if there’s an emergency?” Vena asked.

“I don’t care.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I didn’t like confrontation or adventure or fairies or the outdoors. I liked baking and relaxing, and I wasn’t getting enough time in the kitchen to zen my stressed-out self. So, the next best thing was a nap. Vena knew even though she’d joked about an emergency. Naps were my reset. My escape.

However, this one wasn’t as peacefully long as it should have been.

I heard my phone buzz several times as I slowly woke up and made mental bets with myself if it was Vena complaining about MC, Shepard complaining about Cross, or Cross complaining about Shepard. The chance that it was Cross seeing if I was alright was at the top of my mental pool.

Giving up on sleep, I checked.

Vena won. And she obviously hadn’t spent the last hour napping like I had.

Vena: I’m going to bitch slap MC into next Tuesday if he comes back. Shepard might be next in line.

Vena: He doesn’t have a plan, Ev. No clue where to even look for Anchor.

Vena: Hunting vamps is fine, but how long will it take to get one to talk? It’s a waste of time when we already know who has the answer.

Vena: We’re kidnapping Sierra today.

I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

Me: You are officially insane. We are NOT kidnapping anyone.

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