Page 90 of Take It Offline

I want to know everything there is to know about him. I want to replace every wrong assumption I’ve had about him with the truth. Because he might not know it, but he unlocked something for me last night.

He gave me back a key that had long ago gone missing. Opened my eyes to all the reasons I enjoyed sex in the first place. And he’s right. It wasn’t about the finish line, but every step leading to it.

And he did it without asking for anything in return.

I’m tempted to press my burning cheek into the car window. Every time I think of last night, my pulse trips over itself. The sight of Charlie, wild, ravaged, undone, is forever seared into my memory, better than all the art money can buy.

It’s a shame I’ll never see it again.

The shelter is smaller than I pictured. Compact but using every inch of space efficiently.

It’s been a while since I’ve been this nervous to meet someone. Everything Charlie’s told me about Reese (which is more than I’ve dragged out of him about himself) assures me she’s friendly, but nothing prepares me for the blur of red hair that launches itself at me as soon as we walk in.

“Please, please, please tell me you’re Emma. I’ve got a bet to win.”

“That depends,” I say. “Do I get a cut of the winnings?”

Reese beams at her brother. “Oh, you are totally screwed.” Before I can even turn to gauge his reaction, Reese pulls me out of the foyer and into the back. At the end of the short hallway is a doctor’s room—vet room, I suppose—and to the left, where we end up, are the kennels. “Welcome to the circus,” she says. “I sure hope you like animals.”

Although her tone is light and playful, there’s no doubt this is an interview. It’s flattering that she wants to make sure I’m good enough for her brother. It’s obvious they care fiercely about each other. I’m overwhelmingly jealous, which is new.

“I do.”

“Good.” Reese crosses her arms over her Led Zeppelin shirt. It suits her. So do the well-loved leather boots, the wallet chain,the twenty-sided die pendant around her neck. “What was the length of your longest relationship?”

“A year.”

Her eyes are as shrewd as her brother’s. “With the ex that Charlie is helping you get back?”

Ah. So he’s told her about that.

“Yes.”

On the wall is a poster loudly proclaimingHappy Rex Manning Day!I’ll have to ask Charlie about the reference later.

“Drugs?” she asks.

“Caffeine, aspirin, wine.”

“Red or white?”

“Yes.”

Reese’s eyes light up. “Heads or tails?”

Keeping people on their toes runs in the family, I see. “Tails,” I say.

She nods slowly. This must be what it’s like to stand trial. “Why?”

“Tails don’t lie.”

“No, they don’t,” she crows. If her smile gets any wider, I’m worried she’ll burst, and then I’ll really be in trouble. “History or geography? We’re having a quiz night next week, and we need to round out the team.”

“Then you’re in luck, because I aced geography.” In all of five minutes, I know everything I need to know about Reese. She’s interesting and caring and is deeply protective of her brother.

I really don’t blame her.

“Now I have a question for you,” I say. “How long would you last in a zombie apocalypse?”

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