Ash could not reconstruct every detail of what happened beneath the Carson estate, so he stopped trying. He cleared his throat and looked toward Heather.
"Don't dwell on it too much. The Bloodthirsty Demon had completely taken control of Jed's body by the end. Destroying it can be considered revenge for what it did to your cousin."
Heather released a quiet sigh. Her mind had absorbed far too many life-changing revelations over the past two days. Demons were real, her adoptive parents had helped murder her biological family, and an infamous serial killer had been her cousin.
Compared to everything else, Jed Sawyer's identity no longer seemed like the most shocking part.
"At least it's over."
Heather fell backward onto the bed and stretched across the mattress.
"I'm going to sleep. When I wake up tomorrow, I'll still be a wealthy woman who inherited millions of dollars."
Gwen nudged her toward the other side of the bed before straightening the sheets. She climbed beneath the thin blanket and left enough space for Heather beside her.
The Texas night remained hot even after midnight. The light quilt rested loosely over their bodies while the window air conditioner sat silent near the wall.
Once both women settled down, Ash walked to the door and turned off the main light. A faint glow from the bathroom remained as a night-light.
He adjusted the mechanical control on the old air conditioner. The machine began humming and released a stream of cool, slightly damp air into the room.
Ash crossed to the second double bed and lay down. Mild exhaustion settled over him, and the steady noise from the air conditioner quickly pulled him into sleep.
Some time later, the mattress shifted beneath a careful movement.
Heather quietly climbed out of Gwen's bed and entered the bathroom. She returned a short time later but did not go back to her original place.
Ash felt the blanket beside him lift.
A warm body slipped beneath it and settled against his side. Heather carried the faint scent of soap, while cool moisture remained in her dark hair.
She curled into the bend of his arm like a sleepy cat. Her head rubbed against his shoulder before she released a satisfied breath and became still.
Heather kept her eyes closed throughout the entire process as though she had accidentally chosen the wrong bed while half asleep.
This is comfortable. Tomorrow morning, I'll make Ash take responsibility. Then I can sleep like this whenever I want.
Ash had awakened the moment the mattress moved. His strengthened senses allowed him to remain aware of his surroundings even while asleep, so there was no possibility of Heather entering his bed unnoticed.
He kept his breathing slow and pretended to remain unconscious. His arm shifted as though responding naturally in a dream before settling around her waist.
His palm came to rest against the curve of her hip.
This is comfortable. Tomorrow morning, I'll accuse Heather of taking advantage of me first.
Across the room, Gwen enjoyed the entire double bed by herself. She stretched beneath the blanket before quietly opening her eyes and looking toward the other mattress.
Her brother and best friend were curled together beneath the same covers.
A satisfied smile appeared on Gwen's face.
Ash was already eighteen, and it was probably time for him to have a girlfriend. Heather was beautiful, brave, energetic, and one of the few people Gwen trusted completely.
She also knew Heather's personality well enough to understand that entering Ash's bed had not been an accident.
Tomorrow morning, I'll make them stop pretending and start dating.
With that decision made, Gwen closed her eyes and returned to sleep.
Morning sunlight entered through the gaps in the blinds.
Gwen woke first after spending the night alone in the larger bed. She stretched comfortably until several joints released soft cracks, then rolled onto her side and rested her head against one hand.
The view across the room was surprisingly peaceful.
Ash lay on his back with one arm wrapped naturally around Heather's waist. His hand rested near the curve of her hip as though it had remained there for most of the night.
Heather was half sprawled across his side. Her cheek pressed against his shoulder, while one hand held the fabric over his chest.
A few strands of black hair had stuck to the corner of her slightly open mouth.
Gwen's smile became mischievous.
"Good morning, you two. Sleeping like that must have been crowded."
Ash and Heather reacted almost at the same time.
Ash's eyelashes moved first. He slowly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling before pretending to notice the weight resting against him.
His expression changed with theatrical shock.
Ash pulled his arm back and sat upright as though someone had burned him. The performance was so exaggerated that Gwen immediately rolled her eyes.
"Heather! Why are you in my bed?"
Heather stirred and rubbed her eyes. She looked at Ash beside her and then at the disturbed blanket before allowing a carefully measured blush to spread across her face.
Instead of appearing embarrassed, she adopted an injured expression.
"You're asking me?"
Heather pulled the blanket closer.
"Ash, did you sleepwalk and carry me here? I went to sleep beside Gwen, and somehow I woke up in your arms."
She adjusted her slightly shifted bralette before looking at him accusingly.
"Look at the evidence. You need to take responsibility."
"I carried you here while sleepwalking?"
Ash pointed toward the floor beside the bed.
"Did I also bring your slippers with me?"
Heather followed his finger and saw both slippers positioned neatly beside Ash's mattress.
Her excuse collapsed instantly.
She cleared her throat.
"It appears you were very thorough."
Ash stared at her in disbelief. He had never seen anyone lie with such confidence, except perhaps when looking into a mirror.
Gwen decided to intervene before their argument continued.
"All right. This isn't a serious problem."
She sat upright and folded her hands over the blanket.
"Ash, you're a man. You should show some responsibility. Heather, you don't need to act as though something terrible happened."
Both of them turned toward her.
Gwen continued with complete calm.
"You already spent the night in the same bed. Ash is single, and so are you. Why not try dating?"
Ash and Heather stared at each other.
Heather was delighted inside, but she still lowered her gaze and pretended to hesitate.
"I don't know. I've always thought of Ash as a younger brother."
She sighed dramatically.
"I suppose I can accept the loss and treat last night as a misunderstanding."
Ash immediately brightened.
"Really?"
"No," Gwen and Heather answered together.
A chaotic argument followed.
By the time it ended, Ash had somehow gained a girlfriend.
He repeatedly claimed that the decision had been forced upon him. However, the arm resting naturally around Heather's waist and the smile he could not suppress made that claim difficult to believe.
The three washed and changed before preparing to leave the motel. Ash dried his hands, picked up his cell phone, and dialed the number on Barry Farnsworth's business card.
The attorney answered after several rings.
"Good morning, Mr. Farnsworth," Ash said. "We'd like to begin processing the financial portion of Heather's inheritance today. Would that be possible?"