Page 119

The bathroom door opens, and Valli comes out freshly showered, her hair wrapped in a towel. Her eyes go straight to the scarecrow, and she smiles. “Perfect spot.”

“We thought so,” I say.

She comes closer and stands between us, resting her head on Cipher’s shoulder.

“You need to tell us how the visit went today.”

She nods and holds my gaze for a moment, then she tells us everything. Not that there is much to relay from Cave since he doesn’t speak, but at this visit, there was a man named Shawn who filled them in on his progress. Valli also shares how much tension was crackling between Shawn and Nixie, and we come up with a few theories; ideas we will never ask Nixie about because she will never tell us, but it’s fun to guess.

“I brought back leftovers,” Cipher says when Valli finishes telling us about her day and we’ve brainstormed our conspiracy theories.

We heat the food and sit around the table. “I wonder how late Leni will be,” I muse.

Valli whips her head around to face me. “I would much rather not think about that, thank you. It’s hard to believe my sister is a grownup. I don’t like it and plan to have a little chat with Khodi.”

“Chat or threats?” Cipher asks.

“Both, or maybe we save the threats for when Cave gets back. It will have a lot more impact.”

“I can be scary and intimidating when I need to be,” I say, holding up my fists, which sends everyone into fits of laughter.

Okay, so maybe I’m not all that scary, but if it comes down to it, I know how to dig the perfect hole. It’s just the right size for a body and the best way to cover my tracks. That should be enough to cause concern at the very least.

Chapter Ten

Valli

Noa waltzes into the bathroom as I’m brushing my teeth and smiles at me. It’s bigger than normal, and he is practically buzzing with excitement.

“Spill,” I say after removing the toothbrush from my mouth.

“My family is coming for Christmas.” I look at him in the mirror and continue brushing my teeth. “And Cipher’s parents.” I stop brushing. “Just for a few days. Nixie organized extra rooms for them. It’s going to be great, and everyone is going to love you . . . Why are you looking at me like that?”

I rinse, then put the toothbrush down. “Your parents are coming?”

“Just my mom. I only have a mom, as I grew up with a deadbeat dad. But she’s amazing, you wait and see.”

I’m not exactly worried about meeting their parents, but . . . “Do they know about our situation?”

Noa opens his mouth and closes it, confirming just as I thought—they don’t know that he shares me. “My family knows I’m happy and that there is someone I want them to meet,” he finally says.

“Does your mother know you are sharing a girlfriend with two other men?”

There is a pause, and he makes a sound as if all the air has left his lungs at once. “Did you just say girlfriend?”

“That is not the point of what I said.”

“I think it is—this is huge. Say it again, Valli.”

“No.”

He steps further into the bathroom, no longer lingering at the door. “Just once more, for me.”

“I am not saying it again.”

“You called yourself our girlfriend, of your own free will.”

“Noa, focus.”