Autumn Storm (The Witchling #2)(16)

“I can take you home.”

“No, no, I’m okay, Beck. Thank you.”

“I’m such a dick,” he muttered. “I knew better. No one goes out after dark without a buddy. It’s one of Amber’s rules.”

“You couldn’t know,” she said. “We’re in a public place.”

“Totally my fault. I’m so sorry, Autumn.” His voice was hushed.

Touched by his concern, she couldn’t help thinking there was another reason he was upset. He and his brother clearly weren’t on good terms. She sensed they would’ve fought each other, if she hadn’t been there.

“It’s not your fault, Beck,” she replied.

“I still feel like crap.”

“Thank you for caring.”

“You’re welcome. For the record, anywhere you go after dark, I go with you, okay? Even if you have to beat on my door in the middle of the night.” His features were grave.

“Okay.” She agreed to make him feel better, but it seemed weird for him to be so serious about it. While shaken by the three thugs, she was more shaken by his brother.

She’d never felt such fire in her blood. Her body came to life with one touch from Decker. Something about their brief meeting made her want to know more.

They rejoined the others. Autumn handed drinks down the line until everyone had one then sat down beside Biji again. She barely paid attention to the game. She couldn’t stop thinking about the run-in with Decker. She felt guilty thinking of him while on a date with Beck.

After the game, Beck took her arm and walked to his car. She sank into the comfortable seat, another warm cup of cocoa in her hands. The night had grown cold quick. Beck pulled out of the stadium parking lot and onto the main road through the border town of Newport.

“Thanks for bringing me with you,” she said, leaning her head against the headrest.

“You’re welcome. Sorry about the issue, though.”

“It’s okay, really.”

“I’ve gotta run a few errands tomorrow, but do you want to hang out Sunday?” he asked.

“Sure.” Secretly, she was cheering at the invitation.

“Did you have any more of your mind reading déjà vu?” he teased.

“With Biji, yes,” she replied. “What a sweetheart. I feel like I know her, too.”

“Yeah, she’s a good girl. She’s loyal, too. She beat up Dawn once. Dawn got mouthy with one of her friends.”

“So that’s why she dislikes Dawn,” Autumn said, smiling. “She’s little, but I can totally see her doing that.”

“She’s a fireball. No déjà vu with Jenna or Decker or anyone else?”

“My déjà vu talk doesn’t weird you out?” she asked.

“Seriously?” He glanced at her. “You just discovered we all have magic powers and you think déjà vu weirds me out?”

She laughed.

“I think some things in life are meant to be. Makes sense you’d feel déjà vu when you find where you’re supposed to be,” he said with a shrug.

“I guess.”

“You don’t think so?”

“I do.” She chewed her lower lip. It was more than simply knowing where she should be. She really felt she’d been here before.

“But…” he prodded.

“It’s silly.”

“What?”

“Well …” She hesitated again. “I don’t feel it with everyone and everything. It seems like selective déjà vu.”

“You felt it with me but not Decker?”

“Right. Isn’t that weird?”

“Yeah, it kinda is,” he admitted.

“Sorry,” she murmured. “I’ve been trying to figure out my world again since the accident. It’s like, I can almost reach the memories but then they’re gone. I think I visited Priest Lake when I was little, because I knew where the road went through town before the van driver took us that way last week. Is this part of our magick? Maybe glimpsing the future?”

“No. Our abilities are derived from nature.” He seemed tense again.

“I’ll stop rambling,” she said.

“How long did the doctors say it’d take for your amnesia to clear?”

“They didn’t know. They said my memory could come back suddenly or never.”

“And you don’t know who you are in the meantime.”

“No,” she whispered.

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to rub it in.” He cleared his throat. “You know, considering all that, you’re a lot more … normal than just about everyone else I know.”

“Thanks,” she said.

“I mean that in a positive way. Not sure if it came out that way or not.”

“I understood. My case worker tried to help me remember. She let me read my file.”

“Case worker?” he asked. “Like at the hospital?”

“No, at the orphanage. I’m an orphan.”

Beck said nothing. The tension was back.

“You’re doing it again,” she said, frowning.

“Sorry. Just, uh, thinking about something.”