Dating and Dragons (Dungeons and Drama, #2) (27)

His voice is more soothing than it should be. I hardly know Logan, really. But that doesn’t stop me from swooning over the fact that he’s concerned about Grandma and that he likes me enough that he can’t stay away from me any longer. Granted, I have no idea where that leaves us, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t grateful to have him here right now.

Grandma clears her throat, and my attention fixes back on her. “I told you I had a good feeling about him,” she whispers.

And if the mischievous sparkle in her eyes is any indication, she’s already perfectly fine.





Chapter Eleven





“All ready?” Mom asks Friday after school.

I nod, excited, and haul my overnight bag down the stairs. Kashvi invited me to spend the night at her house before the game Saturday. My parents didn’t want me driving directly there after school because then I’d have one of the cars all of Friday and Saturday, so I had to come back home to gather my stuff before heading over. I’m a little nervous since Kashvi and I haven’t spent a ton of time alone together, but I’m also thrilled to get to know her better.

Mom looks up from her place on the couch, where she’s snuggling with Dad. I’m surprised to see Andrew in the living room as well. He’s playing on his Switch, so it’s not exactly quality bonding time, but usually he doesn’t hang out in the common spaces.

“I’m so happy that both you and Andrew have made such a seamless transition into your new school.” Mom beams at us, and Dad looks up from his magazine to give me a quick smile.

“Seamless” might be a bold statement, but it’s getting better. Even though I don’t see the D&D group much at school, Kashvi and I have started texting more, and I’ve been added to the D&D group chat. We don’t text about anything important, but hearing the others complain about school and joke around makes me feel like we’re closer. It’s nice to have people to text again. And then there’s Logan, of course, but no one else knows about that…whatever that is.

“Quinn, thanks again for helping Grandma with the attic,” Dad says. “I talked to her this morning and she’s still feeling okay after the fall.”

“I’m glad I was there when it happened.”

“This is exactly why she shouldn’t be living on her own anymore,” Mom says.

“Good luck with that,” I reply. “She’s already told me that she’s not moving under any circumstance. Except death.”

Andrew looks up at that. “Morbid much?”

“She’s told us the same,” Dad agrees. “I don’t want to fight with her, especially when we’ve just gotten here, but I’m worried. I keep my phone by the bed just in case a horrible call comes in.”

My chest tightens. I’ve never heard Dad say something so dire about Grandma. It’s easy to forget her age when she’s chatting and buying me ice cream and setting me up on weird attic hangouts. I don’t want to be reminded that she’s getting older.

Mom must feel the same, because she shakes her head and sits up straighter. “Enough of that. So, Barbara mentioned that this boy who helped is cute?”

“What?” Dad eyes me. “I hadn’t heard about that at all. Your helper friend was a boy?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, he’s a boy and he’s not cute.”

That’s a huge lie and I’m sticking to it as long as I can draw breath.

“What’s going on with him?” Mom’s eyes sparkle with amusement. “Is he just a friend or…”

“Hold on, I don’t know if we need you to be this social. Andrew, do you know this kid?” Dad asks. “What do you make of him?”

It takes him a second to look up, probably because he’s trying to pause his game. “Huh?”

Classic Andrew.

Dad rolls his eyes and repeats his question.

Andrew frowns at me. “What’s his name?”

“Logan Weber,” I mumble. How did this conversation get so off topic?

He shakes his head. “I don’t know him. But you’re already dating someone? How do you know he’s not a prick like the last one?”

I can’t decide if I need to swallow down a scream or thank Andrew for caring about what happens to me. I didn’t realize he paid any attention to my dating life. I drop onto the arm of the couch.

“First of all, you’re dating, too, so don’t go lecturing me,” I tell Andrew. “And second, I’m not dating Logan. He’s part of my new D&D group.” I look to Mom. “No dating, remember.”

I told her all about the group and the rules when I first agreed to be part of it. I needed to make sure she and Dad would be on board with me being gone every Saturday afternoon, so I explained how serious the group was.

“I do remember. What group of teenagers makes a rule against dating?”

“A group of dorks,” Andrew replies immediately. He’s already back to playing his game.

“The most intelligent group of kids I’ve ever heard of,” Dad argues.

I rub my hands over my eyes so hard I’m seeing stars. Thank god Kashvi invited me over because I can’t take a whole night with these three.

“We care about things other than dating. Like defeating beholders and red dragons.”