Page 81 (1/2)

"That’s intense"

"Tell me about it I don’t even knohat I would have done otherwise"

"You still haven’t gotten to the part where Daphne kisses you," Dax says "Get to the goods"

As a as Daphne’s kiss had been, I can barely muster the words to tell Dax the rest of the story He lets out a lohistle when I get to the part when Daphne saw my scars and ran away

"I can see how that would cos She probably thinks you’re a total nut job"

"A what?" I shaketo do now?"

"What can I do?" Fate had brought this down on my head Perhaps as punishoing to talk tochiin of the noise

"It’s the doorbell," he says

"Ignore it," I say

"I bet Garrick forgot his keys"

"Let him sit in the cold for a bit" I don’t want Garrick to be a part of this conversation He’ll probably go squealing it all to Sihs and heads for the front door I sit back in the armchair and buryI could pull this off

"See back into the family roo at ht next to hi, tanned arms in front of her chest "I want answers," she says "And I’et the truth"

Daphne has planted herself beside one of the ar anytime soon I pull Dax aside

"What am I supposed to tell her?"

"Try the truth"

"I’m not supposed to do that until the Eve of the Return"

"I’d say your ox is in the mire"

"I have no idea what that means"

"It means that based on the dire circumstances, an exception is in order"

"As in, I’m harpied if I do, and harpied if I don’t?"

"Exactly Always best to go for the truth in these situations"

I drag h my hair and turn toward Daphne She looks at h "So … this is going to sound a bit addled… But … you see …" I look at Dax, hoping he can help uide he turned out to be "Here’s the thing I’m not from around here, and I’m not from the East Coast, either I’m from somewhere much farther away than that I’ my admission for me

"Ummm … what? How did you know?"

"It was kind of a stab in the dark, but thanks for confirers on her arling noise like he’s either choking or laughing "I told you I liked this girl"

Daphne looks at him, her eyes narrowed "Do I know you?"