Against the far wall was a huge clock and a sign updated daily stating what time the sun rose. They didn’t have a sign saying what time the sun would set, though. My tongue felt the bump on my inner lip, and a flash of fear grew and died. I wasn’t bound. I could be out on my own without Ivy protecting me from a faceless vampire appearing and making me beg to be bled. Nothing had changed, apart from me being a little smarter, a little more careful. And as for Al? I was completely safe…until the sun went down. Demon bait. This was no way to live.

Marshal followed my gaze to the clock before his attention dropped to my hand at my side. “You want to go?”

I shook my head as I fixed my red scarf, then felt guilty I was hiding my vamp bites. I’d never felt shame for them before, but I think it was because I understood for the first time how risky it had been to get them and I was embarrassed to have been that stupid. “No. We’ve got time yet.” Being careful not to touch him, I leaned closer so he could hear me over the music as we passed the speakers. “I need to stop on the way home to pick up some tomatoes and another bag or two of candy. I ran out last year, and when I turned the light off, someone tied condoms to my car’s antenna.” Tomatoes, candy, and a complexion charm.

Marshal’s full laugh made me wonder how many he’d tied in his day. There was a distinct glint of devilry in his eyes. “Hey,” he said. “Hold on. Let me see if I can still do this.” And in a sharp movement of flailing arms, he was skating backward. A turn was coming, and I took his hands to steady him when he bobbled. I let go almost immediately, but just that slight touch had eased the tightness in his jaw.

Now I really felt bad about stiffening when he’d taken my hand earlier, and not wanting him to think I thought he was ugly or anything, I skated closer toward him. I had an idea, and I started to sweat. God, I hadn’t done this in years, but if Marshal wasn’t afraid to fall and get an I BROKE MY ASS AT ASTON’S button, then I wasn’t either.

Smiling to hide my nervousness, I leaned forward to be heard over the speakers as we passed them. “Turn around!” I shouted.

“What?”

I grinned. “Stay in front of me, and turn around!”

We were past the speakers, and his eyes were wide as he said, “Okay,” and spun.