Page 18 of Blood

“Unless he snores while awake.”

I nod. “Definitely heard snoring.”

“You did not,” he protests.

“Did, too.” I insist, poking him with my foot again.

“Did not!”

His fingers skim along the sole of my foot, and a giggle escapes before I glare.

“Don’t you dare,” I warn.

He leans sideways so that his torso is over my body and whispers, “Oh, I dare.”

His fingers attack, ripping a squeal from me, then he straightens like it never happened.

“Did I snore?” he asks.

I pull my feet back from his lap, curl my legs in, and turn to my right side, facing the television.

“Yes.” I nod. “Like a rhino.”

Loud fake snoring noises fill the room, but a solid swat to my ass makes me laugh. Something that I wouldn’t do if the blanket wasn’t there to soften the blow.

Kaleb likes nothing more than discipline, especially in his own house.

“Thank you for letting us stay,” I whisper gratefully.

Keeping my eyes on the film, I stretch out again, just enough to tuck my still cold feet beneath his right thigh.

“Bed at ten,” Kaleb announces, his right hand settling on the outside of my left thigh.

We settle again, the sound of the movie and rain hitting the windows the only thing breaking the silence.

“I can’t believe I’m not watching a horror on Halloween.” He shakes his head in disappointment.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Samantha

A loud clang jolts me from sleep. My heart pounds as panic floods me.

What was that?

I hold my breath. A streak of light fills my room, and the loud noise sounds again.

Thunder and lightning.

My heart hammers more.

I reach for the edge of my covers to go in with my mom and dad. As I do, the room lights up again.

White duvet. This isn’t my room. I’m at Kaleb’s.

My eyes water, and I lie back down.

Come on, Sam. You got this. Twenty-two and afraid of storms. Pathetic.