Page 124 of This Pack of Ours

Kit had told Juni we wanted her, but Kit was aglass-half-fullkind of person. Juniper was more of athat’s-not-even-water-it’s-poisonkind of person. We hadn’t really talked about any of this. It seemed that she didn’t know where she stood with us, and that was a bad spot to be in, especially since Jhin had continued to be so weird around her. I needed to talk to him. Actually, I needed to talk to all of them. And soon. The beginnings of a plan was starting to form in my mind.

Adrian arrived back at the house, finally, arms full of boxes of lava lamps.

“You’re a genius, dude,” Ez said, eyes wide. Adrian gave a small smile and made his way over to the nest, putting the boxes down and knocking on the door. Juniper stepped outside and stared at Adrian for a second, eyes darting to the lava lamps then back at him. Kit stepped outside as well and squeaked in surprise.

“I picked up a bunch of stuff, it’s in the van. You don’t have to use it, but I thought?—”

He didn’t finish, because Juniper literally pounced on him, her hands cupping his face as she pulled him into a fierce kiss. He stumbled one step back, arms wrapping around her so she didn’t fall. God, why hadn’t I thought of going nest shopping?

“Inside. Nest,” she panted, breaking the kiss to say that while tugging off his shirt. He happily obliged.

“Hey, Kit, come with me,” I said, ready to take the first step in my plan.

KIT

“You can do this,” Vander said. He’d taken up a position standing in front of me, his hands on my shoulders and forehead pressed to mine; it was oddly comforting.

I nodded, but glanced nervously at the run-down townhouse I’d grown up in. I always started things like this with resolve, but grandmother had a way of mixing up my words and making me feel guilty.

“Maybe,” I said. He’d taken me to a park and told me his plan, and I had suggested coming here after a quick stop at the bank. It was time, and it fit in perfectly with what he was thinking.

“I thought you’d say that.” Vander reached into his pocket and pulled something out. It was a small patch of fabric, ripped from one of Juniper’s former nest pillows. I took it from his hand.

“I can do this,” I amended. Before I could lose my nerve, I walked up to the front door and knocked. It was probably best to do this now, before I thought too hard about it.

We waited, and then the door opened, her foul cigarette and perfume scent assaulting my nose.

“Kristofer—”

“My name is Kit,” I cut her off. Her face pinched into a scowl.

“To what do I owe the pleasure? Two years, you’ve skulked around?—”

“Stop,” I said. “I’m here to get what Dee left me in her will.”

“Those trinkets werelost,Kristofer. God knows why you’d think I’d have them.”

“And,” I continued, “I’m letting you know I’m done with you. For good.”

“God, is this about the restaurant? Stop overreacting, that was ajoke,darling.” She sniffed and raised her chin. “Besides, have you forgotten what you owe me? The debt you left me with.”

“I never asked you to do that. And I didn’t want you to do it, which is what I told you at the time,” I snapped, then took a deep breath. “But, I have a trade.”

I held out the envelope I’d been holding. She snatched it and ripped it open, her eyes narrowing as she scanned it. It was a cheque, covering the rest of my loan and some extra besides.

“You give me Dee’s stuff and I’ll sign it,” I said.

She sniffed again, folding her arms as she considered.

“Fine,” she finally said. “Turns out most of her junk was worthless anyway.”

She opened the door wider, but I took a step back.

“We’ll stay out here.” I rubbed the fabric in my hands for strength, and my grandmother shrugged, disappearing inside.

“You still feeling good with this plan?” Vander asked.

I nodded. It may not be right, but I knew it was what I had to do to fix things.

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