Truth or Demon Read Free Page A

time.
    “I don’t have the key with me right now,” Emma said, giving them a “see-that-won’t-work” look.
    “It’s on the key hook right by the front door in your apartment,” Daisy said.
    Emma’s mom was even tidy with keys.
    “They’re all asleep.”
    “Exactly,” Madison said. “I’ll sneak in with you. If someone wakes up, just tell them you came back for …”
    “Your teddy bear,” Daisy said. Emma still slept with a worn bear she’d had since birth.
    Emma pulled a face at the mention of it, then reluctantly said, “My mom would never believe that. She knows I never forget Mr. Jellybelly.”
    “We’ll think of something.” Madison stood and tugged on the sleeve of Emma’s fleece pajama top. Halfheartedly, Emma allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.
    “Be quick,” Daisy said, once they were in the hall. “You know Poppy’s going to be full of questions.”
    “So have you been living in the U.S. for long?” Poppy asked the man who sat beside her.
    “I—I—no.” The Swedish stranger shook his head, clearly not sure of his answer.
    Poppy glanced at the clock on the fireplace mantel. Twenty minutes. Where were the girls? She’d attempted conversation with the man, but all his answers were vague, and she could see flashes of confusion in his amber eyes.
    His muddled answers and looks could be due to the hit to his head, but she liked to think it was because he was Swedish and everything was just new to him here in Boston. That way she didn’t feel quite so bad about whacking him so hard.
    And to be fair, the girls had been screaming, and Poppy was terrified out of her mind.
    “Why were the girls screaming?” she asked suddenly.
    “What?” More bewilderment clouded his eyes.
    “The girls? They were screaming like crazy. Why would they do that, if they knew you?”
    He shook his head, but before he could give Poppy an answer that likely wouldn’t make any sense anyway, the apartment door opened.
    Poppy rose to greet the girls, anxious to have this all-around unnerving guy out of her house.
    But only Daisy walked into the living room.
    “Where are the other girls?” Poppy asked.
    “Still at Madison’s.”
    Poppy glanced at the man, who, even despite his confusion, managed to lounge on the couch like he owned the place. Then she asked Daisy in a hushed voice, “Is everything okay?”
    Daisy nodded. “Madison’s mom is just annoyed that she forgot to leave the key for him. And she also got in trouble for texting—”
    “Connor Martin,” they said in unison.
    Poppy nodded. That sounded like Madison. That girl could be so boy crazy. Once upon a time, Poppy had been boy crazy too. Such a waste of thoughts and energy. Now she knew there were more important things in life than romance.
    Things like her little sister and keeping her safe and fed and healthy—both physically and emotionally.
    “Well, I’m glad you are more grounded than Madison,” she told her little sister. “No crazy antics to get the attention of a boy.”
    Daisy’s eyes flicked toward Killian, then back to Poppy. She smiled. “No, no crazy antics for me.”
    “So is Madison coming to get him?”
    “No, I said I’d bring him down.”
    Poppy frowned. She still didn’t like the idea of this guy alone with her little sister. Not that he’d shown any signs of anything—well, anything but confusion.
    “Maybe I should walk with you,” Poppy said.
    Daisy shook her head. “Nah. You know what I would like?”
    Poppy tilted her head, still debating going along, but her sister must have taken it as a gesture to continue.
    “I know it’s late and all, but I’d love some of your famous hot chocolate.”
    Poppy didn’t answer.
    “Please. We’ll only be ten minutes, and then the girls will all be back. Hot chocolate would be nice.”
    The warm, milky beverage might be just the thing to calm everyone down after a wild night.
    Poppy glanced at Killian, who still sat there, although now his eyes were closed,