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baffling way of making friends with just about anyone. They were one of those genuinely caring couples who did everything for their community, but it was different with Jackie. Her mother really cared about the other woman, which would have been awesome if Sophie wasn’t stuck alone in a room with a guy who hated her, and his demonic sister.
    She had an unnatural urge to cross herself and throw holy water.
    Several minutes of awkward silence draped over them. No one spoke. Sophie stared at the blank TV while Spencer studied his feet, finding his boots abnormally fascinating. The girl kept darting glances between them as though they were an enthralling game of badminton, but she couldn’t figure out the rules.
    That’s how her mother found them when she walked back into the room ten minutes later carrying a tray of nacho chips and melted cheese. Sophie’s favorite. She glanced at Spencer, then at Sophie, then Suzy and frowned.
    “You should be lying down, Sophie.” She set the tray on the coffee table and straightened. “Suzy. Spencer, please sit.” She left with another stern gesture towards the sofa and a warning glare for Sophie to be hospitable.
    Suzy didn’t seem to need much more prompting than that. She lunged at the platter and went right on ahead scooping a chip into the gooey cheese. She sat on the end of the sofa, short legs kicking as she went back to watching Sophie and Spencer.
    Sophie caved first. She stomped over to the sofa and flopped down. She reached for a chip, her stomach reminding her she hadn’t had anything to eat all day.
    “You might as well sit,” she muttered. “It’ll be worse if she comes back and you’re still over there.”
    She didn’t miss the way his eyes darted from the sofa to the door. He shifted his weight towards the latter, clenching and unclenching his hands at his sides. She didn’t need to be a mind reader to recognize his dilemma.
    “It’s not easy being a hero, eh?” she said, popping another cheesy chip into her mouth. “Bet you’re regretting your decision to save me now.”
    He said nothing. She told herself at least he hadn’t admitted it, but then, he hadn’t denied it either. His silence irked her. It wasn’t as though he cared about the things that came out of his mouth. Suddenly now he was shy? Then, she realized she liked him better this way. Silence really was golden in his case.
    He was watching her smirking freakishly to herself when she dared a peek in his direction. Her chip-baring arm jerked in surprise. A gooey glob of cheese dripped onto her knee, smothering a purple bunny. He smirked when she cursed and threw down the chip, switching it for a napkin. She scrubbed at the mess. The cheese smeared over the frolicking bunny and Sophie stiffened. She’d forgotten all about her fuzzy pajamas.
    “Nice jammies,” Spencer said translating her horrified expression with great ease. “Suzy had a pair like that when she was five.”
    There was no point grabbing for the blanket bunched up beneath her. He’d seen her in all her bunny wearing glory. Reacting now would only amuse him further.
    She raised her chin, met his gaze levelly and replied, “My grandmother gave me these for Christmas. They’re very comfortable.” It had sounded much less pathetic in her head, but she stuck to her guns and dared him to make something of it.
    He raised his hands, palms up. “Easy, Blondie. No one pulls off bunny pajamas quite like you. Happy?”
    It was a compliment wrapped in a sharp insult. She eyed the cheese bowl and judged her ability to pitch it into his face without missing. The odds were not in her favor. With the medication the hospital had given her, she probably couldn’t even locate her nose with one finger without poking an eye out.
    “Well, it’s your fault I’m wearing these in the first place!” She regretted opening her mouth almost instantly.
    Those long, tattooed arms folded across his chest and he tilted his head to the side. “My