Chapter SIX-CASEY

The four of us are just standing there, Rosie having run off to put on some clothes at her mother’s behest. As for me?

Well, I’m nervous.

And when I am nervous, I resort to snark.

“Thanks for sending the human forklift to pick me up,” I say, tilting my chin toward Zeke, who’s lingering by the door like he’s guarding it from intruders or bad vibes.

Dante huffs a laugh, his eyes cutting to Zeke. That look is sharp, but amused.

“Yeah. Talked your ear off, did he?”

“Total blabbermouth.”

“Ha! Well, uh, Rosie says you two got along well?” Avery asks, and she’s nodding her head like a weirdo.

Dante snorts.

Zeke grunts.

I blink between the three of them.

“Does he always stand like that?” I dip my head towards Zeke.

“Like what?” Dante asks innocently.

“Like he’s considering whether to carry my luggage or throw me over his shoulder and disappear me somewhere in the woods like one of those campy 1980s horror flicks?”

Avery snorts. “Yeah, actually, that’s pretty on brand for Zeke.”