When Laurel walked back out to the parking lot in one of her mother’s clean shirts, David was sitting on the trunk of his car waiting. “Is everything okay?” he asked quietly.

Laurel smiled. “Yeah. Or it will be.”

“Did your dad wake up?”

Laurel smiled softly and nodded. “He’s still kind of out of it because of all the morphine and tranquilizers they’ve had him on, but as soon as they wear off, he’ll be good to go.” She climbed up onto the trunk beside him and he wrapped his arm around her. She let her head rest on his shoulder. “How’d your mom take it?” she asked.

David laughed. “Pretty well, considering I lied through my teeth. I told her I left my phone in the car all night and we slept in your dad’s room.” He looked down at the small phone in his hands. “Well, half of that is true.”

Laurel rolled her eyes.

“She lectured me for a while and told me I was irresponsible, but she didn’t ground me from the car or anything. That’s thanks to you, I imagine. She knows I’m helping you.”

“Yeah,” Laurel said with a sigh. David’s mom would never know the half of it.

“I don’t know what she’s going to do when she sees this though,” David continued, pointing to the large bruise on his face. “And this,” he added, looking at the gash on his arm. “In fact, considering I have no idea what was in that river, I should probably go in and get a tetanus shot or something. Stitches, maybe.” He laughed morosely. “I guess I’ll have to come up with something to explain that too.”

Laurel stared at the wide, red gash for several seconds before she made her decision. If David didn’t deserve it, who did? She removed the bottle of elixir from her pocket and carefully unscrewed it.

“What are you doing?” David asked.

“Shh,” Laurel whispered, turning his head so she could reach his cheek. She dabbed one drop of liquid onto her finger and rubbed it across the purpling bruise. “This might sting,” she warned as she let another drop fall into his gash.

By the time she finished stowing the bottle back in her pocket, the bruise had almost disappeared and David was staring openmouthed as the cut faded from an angry red to a soft pink in front of his eyes. In another few minutes, there wouldn’t even be a scar.

“Is that what you gave your dad?” he asked, still staring at his disappearing gash.

Laurel nodded.

David grinned. “He’ll be on his feet in no time. Which is a good thing,” he said with feigned offense. “I’m getting pretty tired of the way you drive me like a slave in that bookstore. I have rights, you know,” he added with a laugh as Laurel slapped his shoulder. He held her wrists till she gave up and they both fell into a subdued silence. “When will you come back?” David asked.

Laurel shrugged. “I can’t imagine Dad will be here for too long. Maybe they’ll release him this weekend.”

“You’re sure that stuff will fix everything?”

“I’m sure.”

David grinned, looking down at his smooth arm. “I’m pretty sure myself.” He paused for a few seconds. “What did you tell your mom?”

Laurel sighed. “I started to tell her the truth, but then my dad woke up. I have to tell her something. I’m not sure what though.”

“I think the truth is your best bet. Well, not about everything. You may want to skim over the trolls and how your parents had a murderous monster in their house.”

Laurel nodded.

“But they should know the truth about you. You shouldn’t have to hide in your own home.”

Their fingers twined and David squeezed her hand. “Faeries, trolls, what else is out there that I’d never have believed? Magic medicine, apparently. Thanks, by the way.”

“It’s only fair,” Laurel replied. “I’ve put you through a lot. And I don’t just mean the troll fiasco.”

“I knew what I was getting into when I signed up.” He shrugged. “Well, I guess I didn’t know everything, but I knew you were different. From the first time I saw you, I knew there was something…something special about you.” He grinned.

“And I was right.”

“Special?” Laurel scoffed. “Is that what you call it?”

“Yes,” David insisted. “That’s what I call it.” He paused and reached for her hand, turning it over and covering it with both of his. He watched her in silence for a while, then lifted a hand to her cheek and drew her a little closer. She didn’t resist as his lips brushed hers, soft as the kiss of a light wind. He pulled back and looked at her.

She didn’t speak; she didn’t lean in. If he was going to get involved in everything her life had turned into, it had to be his choice. She knew what she wanted, but it wasn’t just about her anymore.

After a slight hesitation, David held her closer against his chest and kissed her again, longer this time. Laurel almost sighed in relief as her arms twined around his waist. His lips were soft, warm, and gentle—just like David.

When their kiss ended, he stood in front of her with her hands in his. Neither spoke. Nothing needed to be said. Laurel smiled and let her finger trail down the side of his face, then slipped off the trunk of the car.

David eased into the driver’s seat, his eyes still on Laurel. She waved as she watched his car back out of the parking spot and roll quietly down the street, back onto the 101, headed to normal life again.