41
There’s a car sitting in front of Daniel’s house. A car I recognize.
The windows are shaded dark, so I can’t see in from outside, but I know who’ll be sitting in the back seat.
“I’ll . . . meet you in there,” I tell Daniel.
He looks at me, and I can imagine what he’s thinking. But he just responds with a nod and turns up the walk to his house.
I stand outside the car. The window closest to me rolls down.
“Get in,” Jake says. “You must be freezing.”
“I have to go back inside,” I tell him. “I can’t stay out here long.”
“Halli,” he says, giving me that familiar, nearly-irresistible smile, “get in.”
I glance back toward the house, but Daniel has already gone inside.
“Just for a moment,” I say, opening the door.
Red is happy to jump in and reunite with his stick-throwing buddy.
T
