I hug my best friend. “I believe there’s someone out there who can handle Lilith May DeVille.”
It’s after ten when we all make it downstairs.
“I was just about to come and wake you lazy asses up. Well, as soon as I finished this chapter,” Becca says, laughing as she looks up from the book she’s reading at the counter. Luca’s wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and there’s no hiding the scratches on his arms and face. Becca points that finger at him and makes a few circles. “What’s all this about?”
“I had the nightmare again, with the screaming.” My scratchy voice would have given that info away anyway. Her face falls and she moves like lightning to pull me in for a hug. “I accidentally beat Luca up in my sleep,” I say with my face smashed against her boobs.
“It does look like you got the best of him.” She kisses me on the top of the head, then does the same to Lil and Luca, though they both have to sit down for her to do so. “What are we having forbrunch then?”
“Mimosas?” Lil asks hopefully.
“We have the stuff for that,” Becca says with a laugh.
“Do we have the stuff for caramel banana pancakes?” I haven’t had them in forever, but suddenly, they sound like the best thing in the world.
“Oh yes, we most certainly do. Either of you want some other kind of pancake?”
“Hell no, caramel banana is the best.” Lil gets up and starts making mimosas.
“I’ve never had caramel banana pancakes, but I’ll give them a try.” Luca shrugs.
After breakfast, we introduce Luca to Stars Hollow until Mom and Dad get home. With a sigh, I drag my ass off the couch.
“You want us to go with you?” Lil asks.
“No, this one’s all me.” Luca stands and kisses me lightly before I head downstairs and knock on Dad’s office door.
“Ah, Ari, did you have fun at the market yesterday? I’m sure you girls dragged poor Luca all over the thing,” he says with a grin when he opens it.
“Yes to both. But I have to tell you something.” I’ve rested my voice a lot today, but it still doesn’t sound normal. I walk into his office and he closes the door before taking my face in his hands.
“What is it, sweet girl?”
I take a deep breath and start talking, telling him about the ice neck moments and having the nightmare again.
“Last night wasn’t only the nightmare. It was the screaming, too. Luca ran in, not knowing what was happening and I scratched the shit out of him, Daddy.” I’ve never been able to stop myself from calling my dad Daddy when I’m emotional. I fight the tears with every ounce of willpower in me. They make me feel weak. “He was able to pull me out of it, but not before I hurt him.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about feeling like someone was watching you, Ariana? You promised you would.” Dad’sdisappointed expression and tone fill me with guilt. I break eye contact and look down at the floor, picking at my nails. I hate breaking promises. To anyone, but especially him.
“I know. I’m sorry. I was trying to pretend it didn’t mean anything. Played it off as just my imagination for too long. I didn’t want it to be real.”
“No more, Ariana. You have to tell us.”
My head bobs as I blink back the tears. I let them down and put us all in danger by not mentioning it. And I feel like shit for it. My chest is tight and my stomach hurts.
He releases a deep breath. “I’ll have Parker see what he can find. God knows we’ll need to stock up on ramen, he won’t leave the house until he exhausts all possibilities. And I’m sure Ford will move in for the time being.”
“Uncle Ford moves in for random Tuesdays, Holidays, and when new episodes of Bridgerton drop.”
Dad’s mouth raises at one corner just slightly before his expression goes hard again. “Full security detail if you go anywhere. No exceptions.”
“No exceptions,” I agree, before taking a couple of calming breaths. “Dad… Luca needs to know everything.”
His eyes soften as he tilts his head. It’s a rare thing for us to tell anyone much at all about what happened, let alone everything. It means we trust them fully and expect them to stick around.
“You love him very much.” It’s not a question.
“Yes, I do.”
