“Oh, those were challenging,” he said. “You’re just blocking the potty-training phase and the screaming phase and theBarneyphase.Thatwas more challenging than the most aggressive demon.”
I laughed. “You have a point.”
We shared a smile, both of us thinking about the past. But my smile faded as I returned to the present. “I don’t regret this,” I told him. “But it can’t happen again.”
His mouth quirked up at the corner as he rolled on top of me. “Not even one last time?”
I squealed with laughter, then hooked my arms around his neck. “Not even,” I said. “But maybe one last kiss.”
“I can live with that,” he said, then leaned forward, his lips brushing mine. I arched up, wanting more despite my stern words.
“Eric,” I murmured, sliding my arms down his back. “I think maybe—”
“Mom! Mom! He’s awake! Stuart’s—Oh!”
The moment the door burst open Eric had rolled off of me. But there was no hiding the fact that we were in bed. And not dressed.
Allie stood staring at us, and in that moment, she looked more like an adult than I had ever seen. “Allie,” Eric began, but she held up a hand.
“No. Not right now. I don’t know whether to be happy or freaked out. So not right now, okay?”
Eric nodded as I said, “He’s really awake?”
“Yes. Just now. You have to come.”
“Go get Eddie. We’re right behind you.”
She nodded. “Okay. Bruce and Ren were with me when I went in. Bruce is with him now, but I think Ren ran out to get you,” she said with a hard look to her father.
“Go,” Eric said. “The sooner you go, the sooner we can get there.”
Her cheeks turned slightly pink, obviously realizing we needed to dress, and she zipped out of the room.
“Oh God,” I said throwing the covers aside and practically leaping into my clothes as guilt and confusion and more guilt washed over me. “I can’t believe we—”
“No,” he said. “Not now. No guilt, no waffling. Not now. This needs to be about Stuart.”
He was right. I shoved my feet into my shoes, then sprinted out of the room, Eric following as we practically flew the short distance to Stuart’s room.
I paused to draw a breath and calm myself, then I stepped inside the mostly empty room, with only Stuart in his bed, sitting up and looking bewildered.
Wild relief crashed over me as I saw that he was really awake. I ran to him, taking his hands. “Oh my God, Stuart,” I said, pulling him to me and hugging him.
“Oh,” he said, and I heard the pain in his voice.
I backed away, “Are you okay?”
“Sore,” he said, “and still a little confused.” He looked around. “Allie? Lilith? The chalice? Did Jared do something to me?”
“Allie’s fine,” I told him. “You did it. You kept Lilith out of Allie.”
“Then shouldn’t I be insane? Am I insane?” he asked looking at Eric, who’d barreled in after me.
Eric shook his head. “I don’t know, man. I always thought you were a little. But I think you came through the other side just fine.”
“Why am I not dead or insane?” Stuart asked.
“Jared,” I told him, “You were right that he did something. He saved you. He pulled you free. Allie’s fine, and you’re fine. It all worked out okay.” My laughter sounded strange, and I realized I was probably in a bit of shock.
