Xander was sitting at his makeshift work area, but he wasn’t working. He was looking at me. He glanced to my bedroom where Declan was and then made sure his voice was quiet.
“He moves like a superhuman and looks superhuman,” Xander said, wiggling his eyebrows. “Does he do other things like a superhuman?”
My cheeks heated, but I nodded. “Numerous times.” Xander grinned. “Let’s just say, he’s a fast healer.”
“Oh my God. Please tell me he has a brother.”
I laughed but it reminded me of what my father had said yesterday about other people getting the same serum as Declan. He might be an only child, but in a sense, he might also have brothers or sisters, linked by a common denominator. Connected because of their abilities.
Declan joined us before we could continue the conversation. He said good morning to Xander and then kissed me on the cheek before setting his backpack on the counter and starting to fill it.
“Playing hooky two days in a row?” Xander asked.
I shrugged. “My boss insisted. He always thinks he knows what’s best for me.”
Declan shot me a look but didn't respond. “Did you want to stop by your dad’s house first?”
“I’m not sure.”
Xander stood and walked over, propping his hip on the other side of the counter. “Don’t worry about it. I thought I’d head over and see what he was up to, have some lunch or something. He always makes the best sandwiches. And he texted me last night about stocks or something about moving his money to save more for retirement. I don’t know, I figured I’d stop by and get the scoop today.”
“Really?” I asked. “I’d really appreciate it.” It was a good way to keep an eye on him without hovering.
Xander laughed. “You know I’d do it anyway. Those sandwiches.”
Declan nodded. “Good. So we’re ready to head out?”
I grabbed my backpack and nodded. “Let’s go.”
When we stepped outside and I only saw one small car parked on the side of the road, I glanced at Declan in question.
“Are we taking this?”
His lips curved. “I wanted it to be just you and I today.”
“Can I drive?”
“Do you have a license?”
I arched an eyebrow at him and folded my arms. “Of course. Just because I choose not to have a car doesn’t mean I don’t know how to drive. It’s just…been a few years since—”
“Years?” he asked, eyebrows shooting up.
“It’s like riding a bike, I’m sure.”
He considered this for a moment before pulling open the driver side door for me and taking my backpack. “Just…be careful.”
I smirked at him, excited to get behind the wheel. “What are you worried about? You can’t get hurt.”
“No, I can’t,” he said seriously, “but you can.”
He gave me a quick kiss on the lips before walking around to the other side and hopping in. He made a good point. But I also wasn’t the reckless type. I might not drive as slow as Xander, but I was still careful. Or, at least, I used to be. I wasn’t lying when I’d said it had been a few years since I drove last. But with the college so close and transportation available everywhere else, it didn’t make sense to own a car.
Even now, I had a driver to take me wherever I needed to go. I figured as long as I was with Declan, he’d make sure of it.
I had to adjust the seat because my legs wouldn't reach the pedals. “Is this your car?”
“Buckle up,” he said. He ignored me when I rolled my eyes and nodded. “Yes, this is my car. It’s one of the first things I bought when I started working at Dark Enterprises. Kind of a congratulations award to myself.”
“And yet you use a driver most of the time.”
“Parking’s a bitch.”
With a glance over my shoulder, I checked for traffic. Once we were clear, I pulled onto the road and headed in the familiar direction of my favorite trail. The day was just as beautiful as yesterday had been, with sporadic high clouds, beautiful blue skies, and sunshine that warmed me all the way to my bones.
Declan reached out and set his hand on my thigh, and the familiar tingles heated me the rest of the way.
“Is it like that all the time?” I asked him. “Do you feel hot?”
He chuckled. “I usually run warm, but my body is especially efficient at adjusting to the climate. For the most part, I feel like it’s the perfect temperature all the time even though to you, my skin is warm to the touch.”
“Lucky.”
“Sure, you take the good with the bad. When my father gave me this serum, I thought it would just enhance my normal abilities. A little stronger, a little healthier, maybe better antibodies or something.”
“Like, yay, now I don’t have to get my flu shot?”
His fingers squeezed my thigh when he chuckled. “Exactly.”
“What else?” I asked. “Are you like…immortal?” The idea had just come to me. If he couldn’t get sick and he was healthier, stronger, and faster than any human, maybe the aging process didn’t work the same either.
“Not as far as I know. I suppose talking with somebody who can actually test for these kinds of things would probably be a good idea, but I wasn’t about to let my father do that.”
“Do you really think he did this for his own personal reasons? I mean, maybe he is just trying to make the world a better place. Creating something that’ll potentially cure so many diseases and help people. People like Randy’s son.”
He stared out the window,
