Chapter 21: I Suck at Lying

I asked Xander to pull over and drop me off a block from my house. Even though I knew Mom and Larry were waiting up for me it was past midnight, and I didn’t want to attract any more attention than was necessary. There was always the possibility that whichever one had taken up sentry duty in the hall had fallen asleep in the chair and would miss a quiet, unobtrusive entrance.

As Honeybell idled with a less-than-inconspicuous rattle, I stood in the doorway, looking out into the normal, streetlight-lit, reality that I was about to reenter, my feet hesitating over the threshold.

“You don’t want to go home?” asked Xander from the driver’s seat, twisting around to wave goodbye.