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call, maybe. And that’s when I remembered—Megan was on her way to pick me up. She’d always picked me up, at least until recently. And I hadn’t let her know I had other plans.
    I slipped my phone out of my pocket, clicked over to the contacts list, and selected REEDY —my nickname for her. The phone rang once, twice, then she picked up.
    â€œHey, I know I’m not late, so what’s up?” she answered.
    â€œAnd a good morning to you too,” I said.
    â€œMm-hmm, yeah, good morning.” A crunch as she bit into something on the other end. “I’m eating,” she said with a full mouth, “and then I’m on my way.”
    My free fingers fidgeted with one of my backpack straps. “Um, actually, that’s why I’m calling. I don’t need a ride today.”
    Silence on the other end, save for more crunching as she finished chewing.
    Clearing my throat, I said, “So, you know, take your time with breakfast. Yay, free time!”
    â€œAre you walking?” she said at last. “Or are you getting a ride from someone?”
    â€œI’m getting a ride. From Spencer.”
    I heard Megan snort. “Well, all right. Saves me the gas. I’ll see you at school.”
    Before I could respond, the line went dead.
    I was hoping we’d magically be past this, this jealousy Megan had when it came to me and Spencer. But things had been weird between us since Monday morning, which I guessed was only normal. I mean, I couldn’t really blame her. The weekend before, I’d drugged her, stole her car, and then basically made her hoof it up to Seattle to reclaim said car since I’d sorta abandoned it there. Well, Nighttime Emily did. But I’d already established with Spencer at this point that no matter how different she was, Nighttime Emily was still me. I couldn’t put all the blame on the Hyde to my Jekyll.
    And then the past couple of days at school I’d kept sneaking away during lunch and free periods to convene with Spencer, talk about everything that was happening to us. Megan knew I was keeping secrets from her, there was no way she couldn’t know. We’d told each other everything since elementary school, and I wasn’t exactly the world’s greatest liar. I hated doing it. But whatever was going on with me had sent someone to kill me, and the last thing I wanted was to put her in danger.
    I just hated the rift it was starting to put between us. As I put my phone back in my pocket, I vowed then and there to force myself to find some Emily-Megan bonding time. Just because I was sort of “blossoming” didn’t mean I had to leave behind my oldest— wait for it —“bud.”
    Get it? Blossoming? Bud? Ha. Whew. Yeah, I’m corny.
    I was pulled from my thoughts by the screeching of brakes. A tan minivan pulled up in front of my curb, and Spencer leaned over to wave out the passenger-side window. His messy brown hair had fallen into his face, and he was grinning in that endearingly goofy way of his.
    I couldn’t help but smile when seeing him, because with Spencer came the kind of distraction I needed to get out of my head. Grabbing my bag, I leaped up and raced across the lawn to his car. I opened the door, and his smell—his musk, his pheromones, whatever it was—washed over me.
    The harried thoughts, the visions of dead Dr. Elliott, the stress about Megan—all of it whooshed away as I climbed inside, shut the car door, and found myself surrounded by the wonderful scent that always enveloped me in the presence of my mate.
    Uh. Not that we’d mated . The terminology, it’s a werewolf thing.
    I dropped the bag between my feet, then leaned across the driveshaft to give him an awkward hug.
    â€œSweet, a morning hug,” he said as I pulled back.
    My cheeks burned. “Sorry. It’s just nice to see you, especially after last night.”
    He grinned at me, then put