As Irene and Roman got into his car, Roman held onto the steering wheel as he started the engine.
After driving for some time, he glanced at Irene. "Hey… I'm really sorry about what happened back there. Ava said some things that were really uncalled for."
"You shouldn't have to apologize on her behalf."
"I guess, but she's still my sister. I'm going to feel partially responsible if she's horrible to the people I like. Still, I'm sorry if she ruined the night. I've had a really nice time with you otherwise," Roman said as they reached the curb outside Irene's house.
'Same here! If only I didn't have the spell-book in your car to worry about,' Irene mused, realizing that she couldn't let Roman go just yet without getting the spell-book.
"Hey, it's not too late yet. Do you want to come inside for a bit? I'm pretty sure Aunt Ashley is in there, but I'll try to think of some way to shake her off," Irene said to him.
"It's fine! She seems really nice… And not to brag, but parental figures really like me for some reason," Roman said with a grin, and Irene flashed him a smile as she started to exit the car, but Roman stopped her. "Here, you almost forgot your bag again."
"Oh, thanks," Irene said as she bit her lip, wondering how she was going to get the spell-book now that her plan of leaving her bag in his car didn't work again.
Once they entered the house, they found Ashley watching a TV show in the living room. Dax, curled up on one of the chairs, narrowed his eyes at Irene as soon as he sighted her.
'Yeah, yeah! Don't give me that look. I'm working on it,' Irene thought, not sure if Dax could hear her thoughts.
"Oh, you're back! And Roman's with you, too. Come on in. Hang out for a little while. Make yourselves at home. How was the movie?" Ashley said, while Irene let Roman answer the question, trying to think through her next moves carefully.
She couldn't keep Roman in the house forever, and Irene was certain he was going to notice something fishy if she tried going into his car a second time.
Then, suddenly, an idea struck Irene; she turned to Dax. Concentrating with all her will, Irene looked at Dax as she spoke to him through her mind.
"Hey, Dax! Can you hear me if I talk to you like this? Blink twice if you can hear me talking to you like this."
Dax put his ears back, then blinked twice. 'Thank goodness! Listen, I need your help,' Irene explained as quickly as she could where the spell-book was in Roman's car.
"Are you guys hungry or anything? We've got plenty of snacks, or I can make something, or we can order out. What do you like?" Ashley said, ushering a bemused Roman into the kitchen.
Irene pretended to follow, then hung back once she was sure Roman was occupied by Ashley.
Dax turned to Irene and said in an annoyed whisper, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I figured the book is important to getting my memories back."
"Yes. Very important!"
"Will you let me finish? It's important, but I can't get it myself without Roman and Aunt Ashley noticing that I'm gone."
"So it's up to me, is it? Arrgh! Fine!" Dax grumbled as he stood up and bolted for the front door. "Meow. Meow." Dax mewed.
At the sound, Ashley poked her head back into the living room.
"Oh, honey. Dax just wants out for a minute. Let him out, okay? He probably just wants to chase away those squirrels he always sees in the garden," Ashley said, and Irene did as she was told.
Dax slipped through the door and out into the front yard while Irene shut the door behind him.
Ashley continued, "Then come back in here. I was just telling Roman about the dating apps I've been using."
It took everything Irene had not to slap her hand to her face in a facepalm as she walked toward the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Ashley was conversing with Roman and Irene when she heard meowing coming from the front door.
"That's Dax. I have got to go let him in, be right back," Irene said, leaving the kitchen with hurried steps.
Dax slipped in the front door and jumped into Irene's arms. "There! It wasn't easy, but it's done."
"Where's the book?"
"You think it's so easy to carry something that heavy in this body? I hid it in the garden. We can get it later after your boyfriend leaves. But you owe me… Got it? You're cleverer than to make me do everything for you! I don't want this to become a habit," Dax chided Irene, fixing her with a serious gaze, which only made him look adorable.
Irene chuckled. Never in her eighteen years of living did she imagine that she would be reprimanded by a cat. "Got it! Thanks, Dax. You're the best."
As Irene turned to the kitchen, she realized that Ashley and Roman were talking in much lower, hushed tones.
She strained to listen. "Because Irene is going through a rough time. I like you, but I need to make sure you're with her for the right reasons."
"I know how it must look—us dating after what happened to her. I worry about it all the time. I can't help the way I feel about her, though. I really like her, and I feel like she feels the same way about me," Roman replied.
Irene stepped back a few steps from the doorway and cleared her throat. Both of them smiled brightly when she came in, pretending that no secret conversation had taken place. "Well, have you found anything good to eat?" Irene asked.
"Actually, it's probably best if I head home now. It's getting kind of late," Roman said, while Irene frowned at Ashley, who looked suddenly regretful.
"It was nice to see you again, Roman. Listen, you are welcome here anytime."
"Thank you… I appreciate it," Roman said, smiling at Ashley.
"I'll walk you out, then," Irene said, and Roman nodded as they walked outside together. Irene figured she should break the ice between her and Roman about what she overheard.