The temptation of ten rounds of fried chicken was real. Dave swallowed hard, clearly torn, but mustered the last of his resolve. “Nice try,” he said, chin lifting stubbornly. “You’re not buying me off with chicken again.”
Shermaine raised a brow. “Alright then. What if I throw in steak? Ice cream? A whole dessert cart?”
Dave’s eyes widened. A thin string of drool slipped down the corner of his mouth.
Shermaine chuckled under her breath.
Dave clenched what little pride he had left. “No way! I’m not telling you anything. You can forget it.”
Shermaine didn’t push.
Honestly, she hadn’t expected the floating puffball to have such a backbone.
“Well then,” she said mildly, “new question.”
Dave gave a wary little grunt, but didn’t protest.
“Why have you been following us?”
Though the little creature had no hands to speak of, it somehow managed to produce one. Mouth full of chicken, Dave muttered, “I haven’t been. Total coincidence.”
He spoke with such wide-eyed sincerity, eyes shimmering like polished glass, it was almost believable.
Shermaine smiled.
She and Joshua could’ve used force if they wanted to. This creature was hardly a match for them.
But it was so ridiculous, so strangely endearing, that she just couldn’t bring herself to be harsh with it.
Besides, it hadn’t actually done anything to hurt them.
She had a feeling the answers they needed would come soon anyway from elsewhere.
Dave, perhaps sensing the shift in mood, suddenly lost his appetite. The fried chicken didn’t taste nearly as good anymore.
Five minutes later, the box was empty; the Coke gone, and he gave a sheepish burp. “Thanks for the food.”
Joshua didn’t even look up. “Then you can leave.”
Dave’s lips drooped into a pout. He looked hurt, even a little anxious, but he still puffed up his chest and said, “I could be useful, you know. I can protect you.”
Joshua actually smiled at that.
“I mean it!” Dave said quickly. “I can keep Shermaine safe. And the baby too. I’m stronger than you. We could spar if you don’t believe me.”
To prove his point, he was even willing to burn a sliver of his precious Energon.
Before he could do anything, Joshua flicked a finger.
Dave went flying, bounced off the wall like a rubber toy, and slid down with a soft thud.
Right then, Martha stirred. She looked dazed and pale, blinking fast as her gaze swept around the room. “Sir? Ma’am? I… I think I just saw a ghost…”
Chapter 432
Shermaine sighed, walked over, and gently tapped her forehead.
Martha’s expression went slack, and she obediently returned to her room to lie down.
Joshua took Shermaine’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get some rest.”
“Alright.”
From where he’d fallen, Dave watched them walk away, wounded both in body and pride. ‘Monster,’ he thought miserably. ‘He’s so mean!’
Joshua might’ve told him to leave, but honestly, Dave had never intended to.
He was too exhausted anyway. After the energy he’d burned earlier, he’d been running on fumes. He dragged himself onto the sofa, curled up, and was snoring within minutes.
The next morning, Shermaine boarded a flight back to Horington.
With her gone, Dave grew even more nervous around Joshua, though the man barely acknowledged him.
Most of the time, Dave stayed hidden, napping through the day.
Back in Horington, Shermaine returned straight to the lab. She dove back into her serum research as if nothing had happened, not even mentioning the pregnancy to Danielle.
Time passed quickly. By midday, morning had slipped away without notice.
“Are you still flying back Friday?” Danielle asked.
Shermaine nodded. “It’s better to deal with problems head-on. Clean slate, clean progress.”
They stepped out of work mode for a moment as Shermaine handed Danielle a small wrapped box.
Christmas was fast approaching.
Ross would be heading overseas in a couple of days, and since Danielle wouldn’t be in Basterel either, he’d arranged for his gift to be delivered early.
“Ross asked me to bring this to you.”
Danielle smiled, delighted. “Your brother’s getting pretty romantic these days.”
Just as they reached the lab doors, a familiar voice rang out. Wearing a sleek wool coat and knee-high boots, Molly strode up to them like she owned the street, bold, beautiful, and full of fire. “Well, well. Look who finally took a break from saving the world.”