Grim Business

Chapter Eighteen

Ethan escorted Phoebe to a slightly more private place, in a room that was usually used for studying and group presentation preparation. He shut the door behind them, then turned to face her. He had his arms slung across his chest, in a thoroughly defensive position. The look on his face was more uncertain than she had ever seen it; suddenly, Phoebe wasn’t so sure she wanted to hear this.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“Nothing. Everything. I’ve been trying my best to figure out how to talk about what I saw that night…and about our almost-kiss.”

“Oh.” Phoebe didn’t know what else to say.

“Yeah. Oh. Needless to say, it’s not going so well. I thought I had it figured out but now…now, I really don’t know.” Ethan threw up his hands and began pacing back and forth in the room. He was clearly troubled, but Phoebe had to help him somehow.

“Well, let’s start from the beginning. What has you upset?”

“Everything,” he said. “Nothing seems to add up. Why was your dad there at the party? What happened to the…the wolf? Where did the thing come from in the first place?”

“We discussed it before,” Phoebe said, picking absently at her black pleated skirt.

“Actually, no, we didn’t. Your father did. And his story made even less sense than the one I made up in my head.”

Ethan had her there; her dad had done most of the talking, as she was too busy being traumatized by what had happened. “What did you think happened that night?”

“I can’t say; you’ll think I’m nuts.” Ethan shook his head.

“Trust me, there is nothing you could say that would be weirder than the truth,” she said, and then cursed herself. She had just slipped up, big time. And of course, Ethan noticed.

“So you admit that your father lied.”

“I plead the fifth.” Phoebe shot a look at the door, as if contemplating her chances of running out and escaping.

“Look, I know something’s up. I wasn’t born yesterday. You can tell me, Pheebs.”

“I really, really can’t,” Phoebe said, and when his jaw set stubbornly, she cut in. “I literally can’t; I signed a confidentiality agreement.”

“You’re serious,” Ethan said, staring at her.

“As the plague,” Phoebe said, smiling abashedly.

“That’s alright. You don’t have to tell me—I’ll figure it out on my own eventually. Until then, I was wondering…would you go on a date with me?”

Phoebe stared at him, her jaw going slack. Where the hell had that come from? “Ethan…”

“No, I know it’s kind of a weird subject change, but it really isn’t too much of a stretch; the last time we were…well, not technically on a date, but the point stands—it was interrupted by that monster. I assume it’s gone, as I haven’t heard anything claiming otherwise, so there’s not much of a chance of it happening again, but I genuinely want to get to know you better. And I also would really, really like that kiss at some point.” Ethan had been practically babbling by the end, obviously nervous beyond all reason, but then he gave her his most genuine smile and it was truly breathtaking. It was going to be hard to turn him down.

“Things are really, really weird for me right now, Ethan. I don’t know if I can—“

“Just think about it; you don’t have to answer now. But I can tell…you like me, right? Because I’ve liked you for ages, and if I’m reading the signs wrong then…”