Chapter 3: Did You Know?

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My laughter turns into slow tears as Bree drives me home. "Did you know?" I ask.

She nods excitedly.

"So...am I, like, engaged?" I whisper. Even the word 'engaged' feels wrong in my mouth. Unreal.

My best friend shrugs, glancing over at me out of the corner of her eye. "Do you want to be?"

Now, it's my turn to shrug. "I'm not sure. I mean, to Thomas, yes. But it doesn't feel right. I just turned 18, and now I'm engaged?"

Bree nods. "That's fair. You guys did get back together awfully quick after your month-long family vacation." She scrunches her nose as if the very thought of a vacation disgusts her. "But lots of people get married at 18, Jaycee."

As hard as I try to mask the red tint creeping into my cheeks, I can feel my face flush heartily. My best friend obviously notices. "What was that for?"

"What was what for?"

"The blush," she exclaims, fake-punching me in the shoulder. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head and turn my head to look out the window. "Nothing, Bree."

I close my eyes to rest until I get home, but as my eyes flutter closed, I swear I see a flash of gray zoom past right outside. Bizarre.

Submitted: February 22, 2025

Fantasy fantasy romance teenagers werewolf mythological-creatures