Chapter 26

Darby placed her purple mermaid bookmark inside her fat Merlin book and snapped it shut. "I want to be like you when I get older."

I screwed my face up in mock disgust. "Why?"

"You're not afraid of anything." She handed me her glasses and held the book to her chest.

"Yes, I am." Almost everything scared me these days. I unfolded myself from her and lay her glasses on the nightstand. After I kissed her on the forehead, I made a Darby burrito with her covers.

In the living room, I took Dad's warm spot on the couch when I sent him to tuck her in, too. Empty images flashed on the TV, lulling me to sleep.

Tap-tap-tap.

I stirred awake.

Tap-tap-tap.

It came from right over my head. I didn't want to open my eyes, but they opened anyway. All I saw was a deodorant commercial. The tapping grew louder. My heart hammering into my throat, I forced myself to look up and behind me.