"Let's go… down."
I blinked. "Down?"
She swallowed hard. "The basement. We'll be alone there."
Her eyes lingered on me, nervous but stubborn, daring me to question her.
I tilted my head, teasing. "I thought you didn't care about anyone bumping into us?"
The corner of her mouth twitched before she gave a tiny shrug. "Well, not anymore."
That sudden change only made me grin wider. I pushed to my feet, reaching out. "Okay."
Her hand slid into mine—warm, soft, and trembling. She squeezed once as if testing me, and then she let me lead, clutching her blanket in her other arm. We padded across the hall, the house silent except for our footsteps, until we reached the basement door. I twisted the knob; the hinges gave a low groan as it opened.
"I hope it's at least clean down there," I muttered, peering into the dark.
"It is," she whispered. "I checked when we looked around earlier."
