Creed started sweating. “No one, my queen. Light of my life.”

“Well, it must be someone. You are typing on your phone.”

Otter and I stared wide-eyed. Creed was right. She had superpowers.

“Just my parents, my flower. Wanting to make sure JJ was okay.”

“And is he?”

“Y-yes.”

“You don’t sound sure.”

“Yes. I’m so sure. He’s doing wonderful. They’re eating mashed potatoes right this second, and he’s not even trying to put it up his nose.”

“Interesting. Because I could have sworn Alice said they were going to order pizza. I wonder why they would be having mashed potatoes.”

“Did I say mashed potatoes? I meant pepperoni.”

“Hmm,” she said.

SEE? SHE KNOWS ALL. SHE HEARS ALL. I THINK THE BABY IS EVIL. OR AWESOME. I DON’T KNOW WHICH.

“Bear and I were thinking of redoing the kitchen at some point,” Otter said, staring at the curve of Anna’s stomach.

“Make sure you don’t ask Creed for advice,” Anna said. “Unless you want your house to look like crap.”

“I’m terrible at home décor,” Creed said. “That much is evident. Color swatches? I don’t even know what those are. I shouldn’t be allowed to have opinions about redecorating. Or anything really.”

“I could come over and—”

“No,” Otter and I both blurted at the same time.

She looked at us over her shoulder.

“Um,” I said. “We couldn’t ask that of you.”

“Not in your delicate position,” Otter said.

“Delicate?” she asked evenly. “Huh. Delicate.”

“Why did you say that?” I hissed at Otter.

“Oh no,” Creed groaned. “We’re all going to die.”

“Bear doesn’t know how to use the internet!” Otter said.

“Traitor,” I breathed.

“What, really?” Anna asked with a frown. “Jesus, Bear. Are you sure you’re in the right profession? JJ might be in your class one day, and I vouched for you to get that job. I don’t know how I feel about that. Also, Creed. Come here.”

“Save yourselves,” Creed muttered under his breath. “There’s no hope for me. While she’s feasting on my flesh, run.” He walked as if a man toward death.

Otter and I stared mournfully after him.

I thanked the lord that Creed was like his brother in that he had large amounts of muscle mass. I hoped it would be enough for Anna while we made our escape.

Anna did not, however, feast upon his flesh. Instead, she stood upon her tiptoes and kissed him sweetly on the lips. He sighed a little, shoulders relaxing, and like it was commonplace, his hand went to her stomach, rubbing along the curve of it. I thought maybe it was a diversionary tactic, and that in a moment, she’d rear up and unhinge her jaw before biting off Creed’s head.

Instead, she said, “Sorry,” as she pulled away. She was smiling up at him, and it was the same smile I remembered when I thought I’d loved her. “I’m being a jerk. I don’t mean it.”