Page 78 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

He held me tighter. So much so that it actually hurt.

“Stratton,” I managed.

Marvin glanced at him. “Mind your strength.”

Stratton eased his hold but kept me close.

I touched his chest lightly. “It’s fine. Nothing would have happened to me.”

Peggy exhaled loudly. “That’s where I’m going to stop you, Star Child. You’re wrong. Something mostcertainlywould have happened to you. You’re right to be leery of that house. Right to avoid going in it alone. And you don’t want to be walking around this town at night alone right now.”

A question formed on my face. Did she know what had happened there all those years ago? Another thought hit me. Had other things occurred there since then? “Why?”

Her expression said I already knew the answer. “The house has been in Grimm Cove since the start. A lot of people have come and gone from there. It’s seen a lot of death,” she said, adding a dramatic pause. “With it being a funeral home and all at one point. That much death, that much sorrow leaves a mark. An open wound. And sometimes, just the right mix of things get in the wound, and it gets infected.”

I swallowed hard.

She glanced at Stratton. “She’s not to be in that house without you close. Am I understood?”

“No,” I said fast, wanting to keep Stratton safe. Regardless of what Peggy said about the house, Ihadto pay it a visit. I needed to know what happened to my friends and to Shaggy Professor. That didn’t mean I wanted Stratton harmed in the process. “He doesn’t need to be there with me.”

“Astria,” he said softly, keeping me near him.

Peggy eyed me. “Want to tell me why you seem hell-bent on going there no matter what any of us say? And why you don’t wanthimnear it?”

“Honey,” said Marvin softly to her, as he touched her arm. “You’re scaring the poor thing.”

“Good,” stated Peggy loudly. “She should be scared. Hell, she should be terrified. From what my gut said and from the phone call Marcy made to me, giving me an earful, I damn well hope she’s scared enough to stick to Stratton’s side.”

Marvin slid behind his wife and rubbed her shoulders. “Now, honey, how about we finish locking up here and let the kids go finish what we interrupted?”

Peggy opened her mouth to say something else.

Marvin cut her off. “Honey, weren’t you telling me they’d be perfect together?”

With a grunt, she nodded.

“Then how about we help that along?” he prompted.

She took a big breath and pointed at me. “You’re to stick close by Stratton for the next few days. That means if you’re not here, at the café, you’re with him.”

It was my turn to protest.

Stratton rubbed my back. “Yes. She’s fine with that.”

I lifted a brow.

He met my gaze. “Would you rather argue with Peggy?”

I’d faced down countless monsters and demons over the past eighteen years, but the idea of going against Peggy scared the heck out of me. “Nope. I’m good. Great plan. Sticking to you like glue.”

He licked his lips, clearly trying not to laugh.

Peggy nodded in approval. She then waved her hands at us in a move-along manner. “What are you waiting for? Goodness, the youth of today don’t seem to understand how getting frisky works. Taking off a shirt button by button. Damn shame. A waste if you ask me.”

My eyes widened.

Stratton chuckled and took my hand in his. “Do you have anything here that you’ll need tonight?”

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