Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 2

ThreeSimon grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked hard enough that I staggered. And hard enough thatpeople looked over, which stopped me like a bucket of ice water. The cardinal rule of being on the run:don’t call attention to yourself.Across the food court, the guy was still talking to Chloe. I could see now that Tori wasn’t there. JustChloe. And a stranger.“Chloe is not flirting with that guy,” Simon said.“Course not.”“I mean it. She’s—”I glanced back at him. “I’m not blind. She’s only paying enough attention to him to be polite. He’sthe one flirting, which is bugging her, and that’s why I’m pissed off. She’s trying to eat her fries andhe’s interrupting.”Simon chuckled. It did sound kind of stupid, as rationalizations went. I worry what will happenwhen we stop running. When we go back to school. When Chloe meets other guys. Guys who don’targue and snap at her. Boys who don’t obsessively worry about her. Guys who could take her to amovie and stay right until the end, not have to leave halfway through because they start turning intowolves.But even then she wouldn’t pick up some random guy in the mall.So why was I overreacting? I don’t know. I saw the guy and a flash-fire ignited in my brain, burningaway reason and common sense. If Simon hadn’t stopped me, I’d have made an idiot of myself andcalled attention to us. Worse, I’d have embarrassed Chloe. I was too protective as it was. Frothing atthe mouth because a guy talked to her? Really not going help us get to that next anniversary.“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Thanks.”“No problem. Just keep it cool. And remember, in public, you’re not her boyfriend.”I let out a noise that sounded a little too much like a growl.“Yeah,” Simon said. “It’s a bitch. Especially at a time like this. But that’s the rule.”It was a stupid rule. I’d been fighting it since we moved here. We were pretending to be a blendedfamily—Lauren and my dad posing as a couple with their assorted kids. I’ve argued that it’s not ablood relationship, but apparently, dating my step-sister would be one of those “call attention toourselves” things we need to avoid.“So just . . . be cool,” Simon said. “Let me do the talking.”When I was within about ten feet, Chloe turned, as if she’d sensed me there. She shot me a hugesmile. Then she rolled her eyes toward the guy beside the table and mouthed to me, “Don’t ask.”I rolled my eyes back, managing a slight smile that made her eyes fill with relief.“Good,” Simon murmured beside me. “Very good.”I glowered at him.“What?” he said.“You sound like you’re going to give me a dog biscuit.”“If the shoe fits . . .”I shook my head. As we walked over, a wave of scent hit me. A musky, chemical scent, likesomeone spilled cologne. I had to switch to breathing through my mouth.Chloe motioned me to the seat beside her. When I sat, she laid her hand on my arm, “Finally. Ithought you guys were never going to show. Tori took off a few minutes ago. Apparently, she didn’thave a belt to match her new shirts.” Another roll of her eyes. Then, with her fingers still lightlyresting on my forearm, she turned to the guy. “Carter, this is Derek and Simon. Derek, Simon . . .