Stay by Alyssa Rose Ivy Read Free Book Online Page B

pretend for long, but I was going to hold on to it for as long as I could. “You okay?” he asked worriedly.
    “Yeah I’m fine.”
    “No you’re not, but that’s okay.”
    “It is okay.” I slowed down pace as my building came into view. I wanted to savor every moment.

Chapter Eight
Toby
    Casey was nervous. She wasn’t particularly good at hiding any of her emotions, but it was her nerves that she wore on her sleeve. Maybe it was just because I knew her so well, but her eyes and the tension in her face told me all I needed to know. I hated to see her so uptight, but I also knew she had every right to be. Telling her to relax would just piss her off, and I definitely didn’t want that. Casey was back at my side and fully with me. I wasn’t screwing anything up.
    “How many days do you think we’ll be away?” She pulled open one of her dresser drawers.
    “At least a few.”
    “How heavy of a bag do you think I can fly with?”
    “I’ll carry our stuff, so the weight isn’t a huge deal, but we’re still going to be carrying it around with us. Maybe just grab one full extra set of clothes and whatever you want to sleep in. You know Georgina will have extra clothes for you when we get to New Orleans.”
    Casey nodded. “And I’m sure she’s going to be particular about what I wear.” She paused. “Although did you notice how she didn’t say a word about what I was wearing today? She didn’t seem to care at all.”
    “It’s because she thought she lost you.” I walked over to join her by the dresser. “She loves you, and she thought you were gone. That can do strange things to people.”
    “Yes it can.” She got that far off look on her face which meant she was thinking about Vera. We were going to find her again. After everything we’d been through, those sisters deserved to be reunited for more than a few minutes.
    “She’s a bit crazy, but Georgina is definitely someone you want on your side.”
    “Absolutely.” Casey tossed a pile of clothes on the bed. “I wouldn’t want to be on her bad side. That’s for sure. If she finds out what I’m keeping from her I might be though.”
    “Although she most likely already knows and she’s not making a big deal of it…”
    “Why is this so complicated?” She pouted.
    “Because it’s life. Life is complicated.”
    She sighed. “When this is all over, we’re going to actually do something fun.”
    “We can do anything and everything you want.”
    “Good.” She kissed me lightly on the lips.
    “Is that everything?”
    “I just need to pack my toothbrush and stuff.”
    I smiled. There was something so cute about her. I wished we were going away on a romantic getaway instead of whatever wild goose chase we were probably on, but I was lucky to have her back. I refused to complain when I had so much.
    “Do we need to pack food? A first aid kit?”
    “A first aid kit?”
    “Well, I don’t actually know where we’re going, and we don’t exactly have the best track record for vacations.”
    “That’s true, but I think we’re good. You heal fast now. So do I. A first aid kid isn’t going to do much.”
    “Good point. I’m just trying to be smart about this, and sometimes I forget I don’t have to be so careful anymore. Part of me forgets I’m not human.”
    “And that’s a good thing. Thinking you’re human is important. Remembering what it’s like to be human is too.”
    “Do you?”
    “Do I remember what it’s like?” I sat down on the bed.
    “Yeah. Or has that started to fade?” She sat down next to me.
    “I remember. It hasn’t been that long.”
    “I wonder what it’s like to always know. To grow up that way.”
    “You’ll have to ask your brother one day.”
    She smiled. “Brother. That’s still a weird concept to me.”
    “I can imagine, but he’s probably going to be a pretty good one.”
    “I’m impressed you can say that.” She patted my leg.
    “Why? Because he married Allie?”
    She shifted