Not a bad idea, but there’s only one exit from the house—the dreaded front door. We’d be caught faster than a mouse in a cat’s gaze, and I’m not too keen on finding out what other tricks Margaret has up her sleeves.
“The only option that won’t draw their attention is the second-floor windows.”
“Sounds like a plan. Let’s go.” Nate doesn’t miss a beat as he grabs my hand and heads for the staircase.
I pull back, bringing him to a stop.
Insert a physics question about Superman catching a free-falling civilian before they hit the ground and face their ultimate death.
Nate is an engineer. I’m sure he canactuallydo the math on that one. But it doesn’t take a genius to know that Superman will inevitably be negative thirteen seconds too late, and the civilian likely won’t survive.
“You want us to die?” I stand in shock.
“It wasyoursuggestion, not mine!” He defends himself while I blow out a breath. “I was going to offer to go first. That way, I could catch you on your way down.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “And they say chivalry is dead.”
“Look,” Nate reasons, “why don’t we tell them that we’ve got dinner plans and walk out the front door like normal, non-suicidal human beings?”
“That could work.”
“Thatcouldwork?” he repeats. “No. It’s going to work. Come on, let’s get out of here.” He pulls me in the direction of the two people who’ll ultimately determine our fate.
CHAPTER 8
NATE
“We made it out!” Vivienne squeals in excitement when the front door shuts behind us.
For a split second, her face glows with happiness, but it vanishes when her gaze shifts to the brownstone.
“They’re still looking at us.” She brings her voice down to a whisper.
I do my best to turn around discreetly, only to be met with the wide smiles and big waves of the elders glued to the window—noses squished against the glass and fog forming around their mouths.
I can’t help but chuckle as I look back at her. “We’ve got three options: walk down the street normally, walk down the streetquickly, or sprint like our lives depend on it.”
Vivienne throws her head back in a laugh, eyes closing in the process. A slight breeze blows through her dark brown waves, ruffling the hem of her long blue dress.
An involuntary smile tugs at my lips. This might be the first time I’ve heard her laugh—not in her usual sarcasticor mocking way. This one’s real, down to the shake of her shoulders.
“I love how quickly that third one can get us out of their sight, but walking normally might be the best option.I wouldn’t want to look crazy to oncoming pedestrians.”
“Wouldn’t you say it’s still worth a try?” I grin as I catch the wariness in her eyes.
Without missing a beat, I sprint down the street, glancing back to see a certain brunette frozen in place.
Her mouth gapes in shock before she follows my lead, a hearty laugh bubbling out of her chest. And in record time, we’ve made our escape, slowing down to a brisk walk once we’ve reached the end of the street.
“When did you get so friendly?” Vivienne asks between labored pants.“And kind?”
I do her the favor of pulling us to the side, halting our movement to give her the chance to catch her breath.
“Maybe when you started to like me?” I give her my best guess, earning me the deadliest side-eye.“Sorry—like me more than you did before.”
“I still don’t like you,” Vivienne admits, continuing her walk when she’s no longer heaving. “I’d say I tolerate you at best. But what did you expect after everything you’ve put me through?”
“And what is it exactly that I put you through?” I raise a brow in genuine curiosity. “As far as I know, I’ve saved you from not one, buttwo, near-death experiences.”
