Once in a Full Moon(72)

“I still think that Brandon Maddox might have something to do with this,” Ivy observed.

Abby’s face lit up. “Maybe it is him. Maybe the Legend’s Run Werewolf is Brandon.”

Everyone paused.

“I told you,” Ivy said. “I saw him stare at those wolves. It wasn’t like anything I’ve seen on Animal Planet. This was like something Dr. Meadows would do.”

“There you go again,” Jake said. “I think you must have a thing for that guy. It’s all you ever talk about . . . Brandon and the wolves.”

“Well, he’s also saving dogs,” Abby said. “If he is a werewolf, he’s a good one.”

“What do you think, Celeste?” Ivy asked. “You’re always defending the underdog.”

“I guess you figured it out. Brandon Maddox is a werewolf.”

They all laughed, and this time I did, too.

“Either way, there is something strange going on and it’s best we all stick together,” Nash encouraged.

“Speaking of that . . .” Ivy said, “we have to go, but Nash can drive you home.”

As if on cue, Abby, Jake, Dylan, and Ivy rose while Nash remained seated.

“I thought you were driving me home,” I said under my breath.

“This way you and Nash can have some alone time now that you guys are back together.”

“Back together?” I asked.

“Since this werewolf thing, he has really been there for you,” Ivy said. “It’s just like old times.”

My friends paid the bill, and Nash and I got into his car. He even opened the door for me. The way he was suddenly being a gentleman was endearing. But I felt awkward as he drove me home. Though he was usually self-centered, I knew there was an inner side to him that he didn’t share with other girls. He parked in front of my house.

“Celeste—” he said.

The car was dark, which only added to the appeal of his handsome features. Normally, he would have leaned into me and I would have gotten a melt-worthy kiss.

But since we’d broken up, we hadn’t shared any romantic gestures.

“Yes?” I finally said.

Nash pulled off his class ring. “I want you to have this,” he said.

It was sweet. Nash was attractive, by any girl’s standards. If this had happened a few months ago, I would have taken it without missing a beat. But I wasn’t going to commit to Nash. Even if it were the smart thing to do, even if it didn’t make sense to love a guy who I couldn’t see at night and couldn’t be embraced by in front of my friends by day. But my heart had been taken by such a guy, and I couldn’t go against it.

He held out the ring and it shone under the streetlight.

“You can try it on,” he said. “It may need to be resized.”

I felt so bad. Nash was my friend, but I couldn’t give him my heart, and I couldn’t take his ring.

“There is a part of me that wants this ring, Nash,” I said. “I’d be the luckiest girl at school.”

He scooted closer to me and I looked away.

“But . . .” he said.

“I’m just not—”

“I’ve seen this in movies,” he said. Nash wasn’t used to being turned down. He wasn’t the kind of guy who rejection was likely to happen to. It tore me up inside to be the one who hurt him—especially since I cared about him.

“I’m not saying I don’t care for you. You know I do,” I said.

“I know,” he said. “I’ll just give you some more time.”

Nash wasn’t used to losing. He made a point of letting me know the game wasn’t over yet.

However, in his frustration, he reached to unzip his duffel bag and threw the ring into it.

I saw something dark and hairy coming out of the bag. I screamed.

“What?” he said. He jumped back, too.

“It’s a squirrel!” I pressed my whole body against the passenger-side door.

He, too, scooted away. He quickly opened his car door and jumped out. The overhead car light illuminated the inside. Something furry was sticking out of his duffel bag.

“That—” I said. “It’s alive!”

“This?” he said, pointing to the bag. “It’s nothing.”

I peered into the bag and grabbed the dark fur. He tried to stop my hand, but it was too late. I pulled out a wild wig.

“It’s an old Halloween costume. Here—” he said, stuffing it back into his bag. “Let me walk you to the door.”

Nash had never walked me to the door before. He just didn’t want me to see the costume inside the duffel bag, but it was too late.

I got out of the car, and he met me on the sidewalk.