In Between

Chapter Twelve: The Safehouse

Kieran slept on the floor of the Giles' game room while Bri occupied one of the chairs—she had insisted that Apryl take the only couch. Draven had disappeared outside to sleep in the car again, not that anyone cared, least of all Bri. She hated him and how he acted so damn superior. He was nothing but a no-good scoundrel with a pretty face—an admittedly gorgeous face—but Bri never fell for guys like that—guys like her rotten father.

She remembered Owen Barrey who had left their family when Bri was six. She also remembered that he hadn't been a very good father even before his patience with domestic life had worn thin. He'd clearly never been ready for marital commitment, or any sort of commitment, let alone raising two impressionable children. Their mother had fallen for him as hard as any young damsel in love, and her heart had been broken as she herself had probably predicted. The worst part was that Owen had actually stuck around to procreate twice before getting cold feet, packing up his stuff, and high-tailing it to a completely different state. They'd never heard from him again.

That was why Bri had never been interested in pretty faces. She wasn't really interested in anything of the sort right now, because she had Apryl to take care of—poor, fragile Apryl who fainted when it was time for flu shots. Bri couldn't complicate their lives with a relationship, but she was twenty-three after all, and she still wanted to have some fun. She was contemplating doing something, if only for a little while, with one of the hot twins. Bri decided to let whatever happened happen. She was more focused on getting home, to where they've actually heard of hair straighteners, she thought grudgingly.

Bri ran a hand through her dark hair. Yes, it was starting to frizz, and yes, she was going to throw herself head-first through the next portal to Earth she saw. With a sigh, Bri got off the chair she'd been using as a makeshift bed and looked around. The twins had a nice rec room; the pool and ping pong tables looked a little old fashioned, but so did their whole damn world, and the other game tables were mostly things she didn't recognize.

Bri walked over to the couch, being careful not to step on Kieran, and sat down on the edge beside Apryl's feet. She wished his sister were still small enough so that she could slide up beside her. Some people might consider it odd for a twenty-three-year-old girl to cuddle with her little sister, but Bri really had started thinking of Apryl as the child of her maternal instincts. She was reaching over to brush away a strand of Apryl's hair when her eyes opened. "Hey. Did you get any sleep?" Apryl asked worriedly.

Bri nodded, thinking that this was what she should be asking rather than the other way around. "Yes, and you look a lot better today without those eye bags," Bri responded, knowing that Apryl would understand that she was kidding.

They didn't even have time to stretch before Draven's mental voice intruded into their minds. Hey, is everyone awake down there?

Yes, Apryl answered automatically. Something like a mental groan came from Kieran and then bodies were pounding down the stairs in the manner of a small stampede.

"Hey kids! Sorry to wake you, but it's time to hit the town," Mel asked, hopping gracefully over the banister. Bri smiled at her, resisting the urge to snub Miss Ebony Goddess of Skin Care for being almost more beautiful than her. These spiteful feelings disappeared when she saw what the girl was holding.

"Clothes! Oh, thank God," Bri said reverently, snatching the fabric from Mel's arms.

"The twins have had girlfriends about your size," Mel explained, handing a second set of clothes to Apryl.

After the sisters had tried on the outfits (Bri was beyond grateful that the black jeans and silky blue and green tops were so flattering), Mel announced some good news.