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“Can you give her anything?”
“No, I’ll just have to wait until she comes down.” He put his head in his hands. “Drugs. Fucking drugs. What next? I got to the party, and it was so loud. And she was dancing with some guy. He was all over her. If I’d left it any later…” He shuddered.
My teeth continued to chatter, making me shiver and grin at the same time.
“Watch her while I fetch a blanket.” Dylan abruptly left the kitchen.
“What did you say to Dylan?” Lulu knelt in front of me and shook me a little.
“Hi, Lulu, you look so lovely. You are so beautiful.”
“Your eyes are like saucers, Emily. You really are out of it. Darling girl, this isn’t like you.” She stroked my hair, and I leaned my head toward her so our foreheads touched. I closed my eyes. This was Lulu. She loved Dylan. Dylan needed her. He needed love. More love.
My teeth chattered again. I stumbled forward into Lulu’s arms, and I hugged her. She laughed, and she put her arms around me. We were both sitting on the floor. She kissed my hair.
“So it’s true what they say about ecstasy. You love everyone?”
“I do. I love you and Dylan and Tristan and… That’s it, no one else.” I frowned.
Something was missing from the loves of my life. “Oh yes, my mother and father and Billy. But I’ve lost them. I have nothing to lose now. I have nothing. I have lost everyone, except you and Dylan and Tristan. But Tristan is already lost. I should find him.”
“Who’s Tristan?”
“He’s my secret.”
She stroked my hair and held me. “You are so going to regret this in the morning.”
Dylan returned with a blanket.
I waved, grinning like a fool.
“I love you too, Dylan.”
“And I you, Emily. Here,” he said dryly as he put the blanket around me.
“And Tristan.”
“Who’s Tristan?”
“Her secret apparently,” Lulu said.
Dylan paled. “Shit, she has a boyfriend? I had no idea. Perhaps that guy she was dancing with.”
“I’ll leave you with your niece. Good luck.” Lulu extracted herself from my arms. “Good night, Emily,” she said and kissed the top of my head. She stood and left me on the floor wrapped in the blanket.
“Good night, lovely Lulu.”
Dylan glared down at me, but his eyes softened. “Are you comfortable on the floor?”
“Not really.”
He bent down and helped me to my feet. I steadied myself, putting my hand on his chest.
“You’re so warm,” I said in wonder, and before he could stop me, I put my arms around him and hugged him. I wanted his warmth.
He stilled. “What are you doing?” he whispered.
“You’re so warm. I’m cold.”
