Before I Wake
Page 40
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Tod shrugged. Its worth a shot. He pulled his cell from his pocket and scrolled through the menu for less than a seconda reapers contact list cant be very longthen pressed a button and held the phone to his ear. Sabine? We need help with something dangerous and probably stupid. You in?
I couldnt hear her reply, but it sounded like some variation of Hell, yes.
I assume youre in my brothers bed? he said, and that time I was glad I couldnt hear the reply. Well be there in a minute.
You know, most people dont ask questions like that, I said as he knelt to grip Thane beneath his arms.
Thats because most people care what other people think about them. I dont have that problem.
I frowned. You dont care what I think about you?
Youre not other people. Tod glanced at my torn shirt, and I realized it no longer covered much. Why dont you go change, then meet me at Nashs?
Hes not speaking to you. Not without me there to play mediator. And we didnt know how long Thane would be out. And even if Tod had been willing to leave me alone with the rogue reapereven unconsciousI wasnt sure I could get him to Nashs on my own. I was still very new at the afterlife. Damn it. Guess Im wearing the costume, after all.
In the bathroom, I pulled off the remains of my shirt and pulled Emmas candy-stripper dress over my head, relieved to see that it covered more than my ruined shirt. Barely. But my shorts were hardly visible beneath the short skirt.
Wow, Tod said when I stepped out of the bathroom.
Change your mind about the costume?
He shook his head. You dont need that to look hot. But it definitely needed you.
I couldnt resist a satisfied smile as Tod hauled Thane up, and I knelt to pick up his feet. Aim for the living room, unless you want to see Sabine naked.
Have you seen her naked?
Tod flinched. Not on purpose. You ready? he asked, and I nodded, pulling Thanes legs higher. In threetwoone.
We blinked out together, and by some miracle we both landed in Nashs living room at the same time. And Thane was in one piece. What would have happened if youd gotten here just an instant before me? I asked, setting the unconscious reapers feet on the ground.
Tod hauled him over to the only armchair and dropped him into it. You know how a wishbone works, right?
Ew. And I was betting we couldnt get many answers out of half a reaper.
Nashs bedroom door openeddown the hall and Sabine came out in a bra, still buttoning her jeans, her shirt tossed over one shoulder. Nash was right behind her, in nothing but boxers.
Sabine burst into laughter the moment she saw me, but Nash stopped cold in the middle of the hall. What the hell are you wearing?
You look like a blow-up doll come to life, Sabine said before I could explain, and I could feel my face flame. She pulled her phone from her pocket. No ones going to believe this without a picture.
Its not what it looks like, I said through clenched teeth. Take your finger off the button, or I swear you will be in the market for a new phone.
And a new finger, Tod added.
What are you doing here? Nash asked. And please skip the part about your outfit. I dont want to know.
I do, Sabine said, but we all ignored her. So, did the costume come with a condom, or is that sold separately?
This coming from the half-naked Nightmare who just rolled out of someone elses bed, I snapped, more embarrassed than truly angry. My shirt got torn in a fight. Yours evidently has a fast-release tab.
What do you want, Kaylee? Nash demanded again, completely ignoring his brother.
We need Sabine to read him. I stepped aside so they could see Thane, still passed out in the chair. Quickly. Were not sure how long hell be out.
We? Nash said, and thats when I realized he couldnt see Tod. Im guessing my brothers here somewhere?
I glanced at Tod with both brows raised, and he shrugged. I didnt think hed want to see me. A second later, Nash stiffened and glanced from me to the brother he could obviously see now.
Get out, he growled through gritted teeth.
Nash Tod started, and I stepped between them when Nash advanced on him.
Okay, now, wait a minute, I said, acutely aware that I was still dressed like a naughty candy striper. I know this is awkward and embarrassing for everyone, but
Not for me, Sabine said.
but we wouldnt be here if this wasnt an emergency. So heres whats going to happen. Sabines going to put her shirt on. Im going to borrow a shirt. And you two are going to pretendjust for the next fifteen minutesthat you still have something in common beyond DNA.
Oh, I think youre no-longer-living proof that they share more than that, the mara said, and I groaned. Oh, lighten up. This is funny, and you all know it.
I couldnt hear her reply, but it sounded like some variation of Hell, yes.
I assume youre in my brothers bed? he said, and that time I was glad I couldnt hear the reply. Well be there in a minute.
You know, most people dont ask questions like that, I said as he knelt to grip Thane beneath his arms.
Thats because most people care what other people think about them. I dont have that problem.
I frowned. You dont care what I think about you?
Youre not other people. Tod glanced at my torn shirt, and I realized it no longer covered much. Why dont you go change, then meet me at Nashs?
Hes not speaking to you. Not without me there to play mediator. And we didnt know how long Thane would be out. And even if Tod had been willing to leave me alone with the rogue reapereven unconsciousI wasnt sure I could get him to Nashs on my own. I was still very new at the afterlife. Damn it. Guess Im wearing the costume, after all.
In the bathroom, I pulled off the remains of my shirt and pulled Emmas candy-stripper dress over my head, relieved to see that it covered more than my ruined shirt. Barely. But my shorts were hardly visible beneath the short skirt.
Wow, Tod said when I stepped out of the bathroom.
Change your mind about the costume?
He shook his head. You dont need that to look hot. But it definitely needed you.
I couldnt resist a satisfied smile as Tod hauled Thane up, and I knelt to pick up his feet. Aim for the living room, unless you want to see Sabine naked.
Have you seen her naked?
Tod flinched. Not on purpose. You ready? he asked, and I nodded, pulling Thanes legs higher. In threetwoone.
We blinked out together, and by some miracle we both landed in Nashs living room at the same time. And Thane was in one piece. What would have happened if youd gotten here just an instant before me? I asked, setting the unconscious reapers feet on the ground.
Tod hauled him over to the only armchair and dropped him into it. You know how a wishbone works, right?
Ew. And I was betting we couldnt get many answers out of half a reaper.
Nashs bedroom door openeddown the hall and Sabine came out in a bra, still buttoning her jeans, her shirt tossed over one shoulder. Nash was right behind her, in nothing but boxers.
Sabine burst into laughter the moment she saw me, but Nash stopped cold in the middle of the hall. What the hell are you wearing?
You look like a blow-up doll come to life, Sabine said before I could explain, and I could feel my face flame. She pulled her phone from her pocket. No ones going to believe this without a picture.
Its not what it looks like, I said through clenched teeth. Take your finger off the button, or I swear you will be in the market for a new phone.
And a new finger, Tod added.
What are you doing here? Nash asked. And please skip the part about your outfit. I dont want to know.
I do, Sabine said, but we all ignored her. So, did the costume come with a condom, or is that sold separately?
This coming from the half-naked Nightmare who just rolled out of someone elses bed, I snapped, more embarrassed than truly angry. My shirt got torn in a fight. Yours evidently has a fast-release tab.
What do you want, Kaylee? Nash demanded again, completely ignoring his brother.
We need Sabine to read him. I stepped aside so they could see Thane, still passed out in the chair. Quickly. Were not sure how long hell be out.
We? Nash said, and thats when I realized he couldnt see Tod. Im guessing my brothers here somewhere?
I glanced at Tod with both brows raised, and he shrugged. I didnt think hed want to see me. A second later, Nash stiffened and glanced from me to the brother he could obviously see now.
Get out, he growled through gritted teeth.
Nash Tod started, and I stepped between them when Nash advanced on him.
Okay, now, wait a minute, I said, acutely aware that I was still dressed like a naughty candy striper. I know this is awkward and embarrassing for everyone, but
Not for me, Sabine said.
but we wouldnt be here if this wasnt an emergency. So heres whats going to happen. Sabines going to put her shirt on. Im going to borrow a shirt. And you two are going to pretendjust for the next fifteen minutesthat you still have something in common beyond DNA.
Oh, I think youre no-longer-living proof that they share more than that, the mara said, and I groaned. Oh, lighten up. This is funny, and you all know it.
