“It’s just that I know I wasn’t always supportive of you and Jared. The age difference, the vampire thing—it’s a lot. But you know that’s changed, right? I’ve watched him with you, and I know he loves you. Really loves you. The kind of love that lasts.”
She started to speak, but I held up a finger. “No, let me finish. I just want to say that before you do anything you can’t take back, you need to think about what you’d be giving up.”
She just gaped at me, her brow furrowed like it does when she’s doing math.
Then her lips twitched, and her eyes got huge. “Oh. My. God. Mom.”
She let the words hang as she laughed, and while I wanted to tell her that breaking Jared’s heart was not funny, at the same time, I began to think that I’d gotten something wildly, terribly wrong.
“Mom,” she said slowly, in the tone of someone savoring every word. “I don’t have a crush on Zane.”
“Okaaaay,” I said, slowly. “Then why did Mindy tell Laura you did?”
“Um, hello? Because she has a crush on him.”
“But she said you did.”
“Well, duh. She probably wanted to feel out Aunt Laura about what she thinks of Zane.” Allie was grinning now, clearly enjoying my discomfort far more than any loving daughter should.
“Oh.” It took a second. Then...“Oh!So when I saw you two talking after training?—”
“I was telling him to stop pulling his punches. He’s good, but he’s too careful. It’s going to get him killed.” She tilted her head, studying me with an expression that was uncomfortably knowing. “Did you really think I’d dump Jared?”
“No! I just thought maybe you were...confused. Or tempted. Or being an idiot.”
“Mom.” She put her hand on my arm, mimicking my earlier gesture with devastating accuracy. “I love Jared. Like, really love him. The kind of love that lasts.” She grinned.
“You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“I really am.”
I pressed my hand to my forehead. “I’m an idiot.”
“Little bit.” But her voice was fond. “For the record, I already know everything you said about Jared. But it’s nice to hear you say it, too. I’ll tell him you’re a fan. Because you’re right. He is good for me.”
“He really is,” I admitted.
“I know it’s not easy for you,” she said, her voice turning serious. And sounding much older than seventeen. “The age thing, the vampire thing, all of it. So thanks. For trying. But, you know, maybe don’t say anything to Daddy. I mean, he knows, but he probably doesn’tknow. I’ll tell him. Just not quite yet.”
I laughed. “Fair enough,” I said, standing and then pulling her up and into a hug. With a sigh, I breathed in the familiar scent of her shampoo and the faint metallic tang of the weapons she’d been handling. My baby girl, pretty much all grown up.
“I love you,” I said, brushing away a tear. “Even when I’m being an oblivious idiot.”
“Love you too, Mom.” She hugged me back, then pulled away with a smirk. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go tell Mindy that her secret crush isn’t as secret as she thinks.”
“Not yet. Tell her we’re having a meeting. Library. Now.”
“Oh.” The teenager vanished, replaced by the Hunter. “What happened?”
“Nothing good,” I said. “See you there. And hurry.”
She didn’t ask questions. She just nodded once and left, her footsteps quick and purposeful.
I stood alone in the training room, surrounded by weapons and mirrors and the lingering warmth of my daughter’s laughter.
And in a few minutes, I was going to have to tell her that an ancient demon was supremely pissed off and probably wanted her dead.
17
