Page 69 of The Hunger
I grinned at him as he opened my door. The graffiti didn’t bother me. It was par for the course in Uttira. However, it seemed to bother Fenris. As we left school grounds, he got quiet and started tapping the steering wheel, which normally meant he was agitated. But he didn’t feel upset. Only restless.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. I’m just planning.”
I debated if I wanted to know or not. Then I realized what I was doing. Hiding from the truth again.
“Okay. What are you planning? If it’s concerning the mermaids, they’re not worth it.”
“It’s not them.”
“Then what is it?”
“Can’t tell you. It’s got to be a surprise. But, I think you’ll like it. I won’t. At least, not the first part of it. It’s going to be tricky. I might get hurt.” He glanced at me. “Are you going to give me hugs and kisses if I get hurt?”
“Not if you’re planning on getting hurt on purpose. It’s probably going to make me not want to talk to you.”
“Hmm.” He turned into Megan’s driveway before I could demand the answer from him.
“Come on, chipmunk. We have a busy night ahead of us.”
I wrinkled my nose at him as he walked around the car to open my door.
“A busy Fenris-won’t-get-hurt night, right?”
“We’ll see.”
Shaking my head, I followed him to the door. With Fenris, I was learning it was pointless to try to contain his enthusiasm for creating trouble. I only hoped he was teasing about the getting hurt part.
Megan opened the door and waved us in. Then her gaze caught on the car.
“Who’s asking for me?”
“The mermaids,” I said as Fenris took our bags from the back.
“Who would have thought fish could hold grudges for so long. I thought they had smaller brains. And what’s up with the sperm?”
“I think it’s supposed to be the Oracle,” I said.
Bags over his shoulder, Fenris wrapped his hand around mine, and we started for the door.
“Nope. It’s sperm,” she said. “Fenris, next time you see them, tell them I’m not interested in their fish sperm.”
“Glad to,” Fenris said.
“Good.” Her gaze swung to me, and her annoyance faded. “I’m so excited for tonight. What’s in the bags? Are you two planning on staying over?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “You know I only have one spare bed, right?”
“No, we’re not staying. But, I brought the grey dress to change into for dancing.” I gave her a worried look. “You saved that gorgeous dress from New York, right?”
“She did,” Oanen said, walking into the kitchen.
Fenris moved in a blur of speed, crossing the room and crashing into Oanen before Megan or I knew what was happening. Trapped in Fenris’s embrace, Oanen looked at us.
“I know I promised not to hurt him, but this is crossing a line.”
“Come on, Oanen. Use your arms. Brothers hug.”
Megan began to laugh then did her best to cover it up with coughing. I rolled my eyes, suddenly understanding why Fenris wasn’t sure if he’d get hurt tonight or not.
