Claire was just drifting off, cocooned in the warmth of Alissa’s ridiculously comfortable couch, when her phone vibrated softly on the cushion beside her. The screen lit up in the dark room, casting a gentle blue glow across the sleeping girls. She blinked sleepily, careful not to wake anyone, and glanced at the caller ID.
Xander.
A small smile tugged at her lips despite the late hour. She answered in a whisper, slipping out from under the blanket.
“Hey,” she breathed, tiptoeing toward the door.
“Claire…” Xander’s voice was low, rough with something she couldn’t quite name. “I’m outside Alissa’s room. Can you come out?”
Her heart skipped. “Now? Is everything okay?”
“Just… come. Please.”
She hesitated for half a second, glancing back at the pile of girls tangled in blankets and pillo
