“It’s just… nothing… never mind.”
“No”—I prop myself up on one elbow and gaze down at him—“What?”
“It’s just, when we were sitting on the sofa, the thunder was so loud it sounded like it was almost on top of us, but your dad didn’t even flinch. He was really unsettled, scared even, but I don’t think it was the storm frightening him.”
“What else could it have been?” I ask.
“He was watching the corner of the room, and I could’ve sworn he was seeing something I couldn’t. I wondered if maybe his condition sometimes means he sees things that aren’t there.”
“I don’t think so, but maybe we should keep an eye on him.”
“Who knows, maybe he was looking at a ghost.” He chuckles.
“Imagine that,” I murmur awkwardly.
“Tris?” He trails his fingers lightly up and down my back.
“Yes?”
“What’s going on with you?” he asks. “You’ve been out of sorts lately.”
I settle back against his chest, remaining quiet for a moment, twirling imaginary circles through his chest hair while I contemplate how much I can actually tell him. Obviously, telling him a dead lady is wandering around my flat or that I seem to keep running into a scary dementor-shaped soul collector is out of the question.
“Tris?” he says and I feel his heartbeat under my cheek. “You can talk to me if something’s bothering you.”
“I don’t know,” I reply. “I’ve got a lot of stuff rattling around my brain lately. I guess Mrs Abernathy dying kind of reminded me I’m on borrowed time with Dad. I also can’t believe someone would deliberately poison her. She was a harmless little old lady who didn’t deserve what happened to her.”
“No, she didn’t.” Danny strokes my back contemplatively. “There are some bad people out there.”
“I had a bad dream last night.” I glance up at him. “At least, I think it was a bad dream. I don’t remember what it was about, I just remember how it made me feel.”
“How was that?”
“Unsettled… This is probably going to sound pathetic and I’m undoubtedly going to regret saying it, but when I woke up… all I wanted was you.” I huff slightly. “That sounds really childish when I say it out loud.”
“Hey.” His arms tighten around me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“Oh, don’t pay any attention to me. I’m just in a weird headspace today,” I brush it off, suddenly embarrassed at sounding so needy. I guess seeing that reaper shook me more than I thought, but I can’t tell Danny that. I’m probably sounding like a whiney, clingy boyfriend right now.
“Tristan,” he says suddenly. “I wanted… there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about… to ask you.”
“What?” I bite my lip, wondering if I’ve been a bit too Tristan for him lately. I know I’m a lot to deal with, even for his practically limitless patience.
“I was just thinking, I don’t know if it might be too soon, or you might not want to… but I was wondering–”
He’s cut off when my phone rings loudly from the pocket of my jeans.
“I should get that,” I say uncertainly. I want to know what it is that has him looking so nervous, but I can’t ignore my phone in case it’s something to do with my dad.
“It’s fine.” Danny releases his hold on me, and I roll out of bed. Grabbing my briefs off the floor, I slide them on, then pick up my skinny jeans, which are currently inside out and half balled-up. Fumbling in the pocket, I manage to retrieve my phone before it rings off. Glancing at the screen, I realise it’s not the home. It’s Mrs Abernathy’s niece, Larry. I note the time on my phone and I’m a little concerned as to why she’s calling so late.
I hit connect. “Hey, Larry.”
“Hi, Tristan,” she replies a little uncertainly. “I hope you don’t mind me calling.”
“Of course I don’t.” I sit on the edge of the bed as Danny watches me. He grabs the covers and pulls them over himself as if she can somehow see he’s naked. It’s kind of cute, actually. “What can I do for you?”
“I… well, it’s about Aunt Delores. I don’t really have anyone to talk to about her.”
