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“Okay.” He let out another reluctant sigh. “Going.”

“And stop thinking about sex,” she grumbled. “You’re loud. And it’ssuperdistracting right now.”

Nick didn’t answer that.

Still, some part of him could feel she wasn’t kidding.

Instead of making him want to think about sex less, however, it pretty much did the opposite.

“Meet us there,” he said. “Wear the bikini.”

She grunted a half laugh.

Then she hung up.

CHAPTER3

ECHOES OF DREAMS

After his wifehung up on him, Nick walked the rest of the way around their shared king-sized bed. Finishing the last buttons on his shirt, he headed for the bedroom door.

He did it at maybe half-speed from the first time he’d headed that direction today, but he still moved like a vampire, not a human. He still moved fast. Not full speed, fighting-a-vampire-war-stark-naked fast. But also not the deliberately slow way he usually walked when he was trying not to freak out humans.

When he landed, cat-like, on the carpet at the base of the stairs the second time, he was fully clothed.

Tai smirked at him.

When he didn’t react, she folded her arms and smirked more.

He scowled at the kid, folding his arms to mirror hers.

“You arewhite,”Tai informed him in the silence. “I mean, I knew you were super pale. I knew youhadto be, because you’re a vampire and you all have that weird white skin, and teeth that grow, and bloody eyes. And, yeah… I’veseenit, of course. I’ve seen your hands and face. But you’re really reallyREALLYwhite, Nick. Like, scary white. It’s super freaky when you’re your whole body like that. You like like a ghost, Nick. A dead ghost. Or a zombie, Nick. Like… whiter than milk. Whiter than––”

“What’s wrong?” he cut in. “Why did you scream?”

She blinked at him. “Was that Wynter who called you? Was she calling about me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” she demanded. “What did you tell her?”

“Nothing.”

“You clearly told her something.”

“We’re going to a movie later. And maybe the beach. With your brother and Kit.” He saw her eyes light up. Before she could divert him again, he lowered his voice to a growl. “Kid. I’m going to ask you again. Why did you scream?”

She frowned.

She clearly wanted to talk about the movie. And the beach. And her brother. And probably say something about Kit, who she completely idolized.

Then, seeming to think over Nick’s question, she shrugged.

He waited.

The shrug was all he got.

“What was that?” Nick motioned at her sharply, scowling a little. “That ‘dunno’ shrug thing you just did. What’s that supposed to mean, kid? Am I supposed to know what that means? Like, in a way that conveys actual information?”