Things We Can't Say

30: eavesdropping? me? noooooo!

When Lucci and I step back inside, Mom's nowhere to be found, and neither is Jamie. Instead, Trin is there waiting for us, looking obviously bored. She grunts, "About time," under her breath, and then motions for us to follow her up the staircase.

The hallway stretches way longer than normal, more like a hotel than a house. At the end of it, Trin nudges two doors open and motions inside. "The kid's already asleep across the hall," she says to me, then gives Lucci one more dubious once-over. "Don't sleep too late or you won't get breakfast."

With that, she marches off, her footsteps fading into the distance before leaving us entirely in silence.

I look up at Lucci, batting my eyelashes, just in case he wants to reconsider his answer to my earlier question. But he just laughs and flicks me in the forehead. "Good night, Vy."

I try not to show my disappointment, but I'm sure he catches it anyway. "Good night, Lucci."

The door clicks shut behind him, and after a moment I step into my own room: the walls a deep emerald and all the furniture antique, with a bed much too big for one person sitting against the window.

I don't move from my spot at the threshold. I let my knees fold, sinking to the ground, my back against the door.

Lucci just kissed me.

I bury my face in my hands, my feet tapping against the wood, like my body physically can't contain my excitement.

Lucci. Just. Kissed me?

I forget for a second, that I'm in a foreign country with a mother I'm not sure I know anymore and a million questions I still haven't gotten answered. For that second, it doesn't matter; none of it matters but Lucci.

My legs are wobbly, so it takes me a second to stand and reach the bed. I sit on its edge for a while, sending a quick text to Kazue and Nat to fill them in on where we are.

I don't feel all that tired, but nevertheless, I fall asleep soon after my head hits the pillow, and it's the best rest I've gotten in a long, long while.

And of course, it comes to an abrupt end thanks to Jamie.

At first I think some sort of earthquake or landslide is happening, but no, it's just my brother—a massive wolf nearly the size of the bed itself, jumping up and down like a hyperactive puppy.

I sit up, glaring at him. "Jamie."

He goes still, and I can tell by the alarmed look in his eyes that he's no doubt read the annoyance on my face. He sits down, morphing back into his human skin. "Morning, Vy!" he says, blinking at me innocently, like he's done absolutely nothing wrong. "I just had to come wake you up. Do you smell the food downstairs? I haven't been down there yet because I didn't wanna go without you but I'm pretty sure I smell pancakes and waffles. You would think they smell the same considering they are both basically sweet bread in different shapes, but they don't. Also, it seems like there's a lot of people here. Fourteen different scents at least, all of them werewolves. I'm so excited to meet them! I'm sure if they work with Mom then—"

"How," I interrupt, rubbing my temples, "are you this hyper at seven in the morning?"

"Morning schmorning. Time is irrelevant."

I stare at him. "Grey taught you that, didn't he?"

"Yes. Yes he did."

"I figured," I say, chucking a pillow at him. He falls backwards with an exaggerated groan, legs flailing in the air. "Now get out of here; I need to freshen up a little. I'll meet you in the hallway in a sec, okay?"