Some small, deeply uncharitable part of me enjoys that.
No time to savor it. Not while Sorren is two seconds away from face-planting into the plastic ficus by the exit.
Aiming for breezy and coming out breathless, I smile at the stunned faces around us. “Have a great spring break, everyone. See you in a couple of weeks.”
With Sorren’s arm around my shoulder, I pivot and hustle him toward the door as fast as I can manage, considering I’m half-dragging a huge man.
Maybe rabbit.
Nora and Sorren. Art by Momo Mitsuko
Chapter three
Vampire Bunny?
Nora
Sorren has the decency to wait until I’ve shoved him into the backseat before he passes out, his head awkwardly canted against the door, his legs stretched as far as they’ll go along the bench seat. I’ll have to be careful when I open that door. He might fall out and crack his skull on the driveway.
I make the ten-minute drive home in approximately eight minutes. When I pull in, I pause, glance back at the unconscious man, and decide to leave him where he is for now.
Sorry, buddy.
Mom comes first.
I take the stairs two at a time, calling her name the whole way up. When I burst into her bedroom, two sets of startled blue eyes meet mine.
Mom’s and my Aunt Renee’s.
“Are you all right? Everything okay?” I blurt out, scanning the corners of the room like I expect to find, what? A medieval rabbit assassin crouched behind the oxygen tank?
All I see are dust bunnies.
Which feels less funny than it should.
Mom raises her brows. “Of course we are, dear.” She gives me a pointed look. “Areyouokay?”
“Okay!” I repeat, too high, too fast, a smile stretched painfully across my face. “Yep. Totally fine. Have you, um…seen anything strange? Noticed anything unusual today?”
The women exchange a look.
“Nothing,” Aunt Renee says slowly.
“What is it, Nora?” Mom asks. “You seem…flustered.” Understanding dawns in her eyes. “Is it about Seth and Easter weekend at his parents’ house? You know you don’t have to worry about me. Renee will be here.”
“About that—” I freeze and almost tell her about the breakup.
Almost.
Instead, a different plan slides into place. Probably unnecessary. Definitely overkill. But on the off chance Sorren isn’t completely bonkers…
“I was thinking maybe you should stay at Aunt Renee’s this weekend. While I’m with Seth,” I say, forcing my voice to stay casual. “It’s better for you there. No stairs. What if you trip? Fall?”
Mom purses her lips. “Really? I think we’ll be fine here—”
“No,” I cut in, then wince. “It’s just…it would make me feel better. Please? For a couple of days?”
Mom studies me for a prolonged beat, then nods. “We could do that.”
