A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Dex, Ghastly, Skulduggery, Erskine, or Anton. Thanks go out to DeadGirl19 for the review!
When I woke up we'd stopped for snacks and to stretch our legs at a rest area. After washing my face with cold water to wake up I was headed to the snack machines when Dex grabbed me playfully from behind. "Oh, Val! We get to have a sleepover! We can paint each other's nails, and braid each other's hair, and talk about boys! Squee!" He said in a high-pitched voice. Then we both broke into hysterical laugher as I staggered around, trying to shake him off and several older people at the snack machines turned to glare at us.
Ghastly was almost doubled-over in laughter and even Skulduggery looked amused. The rest of the Dead Men were back in the van, so we picked our snacks in a hurry. "Val gets shotgun." Ghastly said as the others piled in the van.
"How aren't you deaf, sweetie?" He asked, amused, and I shrugged. Ghastly and I had never said a word, but he'd become like a second father to me when I gave up my family for magic. And now like any good dad he was giving me a break from Dex's playfulness.
We made the cabin in good time, Ghastly assuring me I had a bag Skulduggery had packed for me. We'd all toted our bags in when Erskine gave us a quick tour. "There's a hot tub outside on the deck, Valkyrie." Erskine said.
"And I forgot to pack your suit. Pity." Skulduggery said dryly.
"Well, you can go for a walk with me later." Erskine tried.
"Valkyrie volunteered to accompany me to the bookstore I like in town." Anton said.
"Oh, right. You can borrow one of the cars then." Erskine said cheerfully.
"Come on then, there's a double room with an interconnecting door if I remember correctly, my most loyal combat accessory. We can be roomies." Skulduggery said and I smiled and followed him up the stairs to the second floor. Once we were safely inside his room, I hugged him tightly.
"Thanks for the save."
"Not a problem. You don't like him that way, do you?" He asked anxiously.
"Erskine? Ew, no. He's a total creeper."
"Good." He chuckled. "Well, you better not keep Anton waiting. I'm well aware it's the first you heard of the bookstore, but I think you'll like it. Here, buy yourself something, and Anton too. Coffees. And if he refuses, I'm right."
"About what?" I asked and he shrugged.
"You'll see."
OMG, what is Skul up to now? Stay tuned to find out!
