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“Crap.”
My attention darted each direction to search my surroundings, hating the deathly quiet, but also knowing it was the safest.
I kept moving through the fear.
I was close to a jog as I moved down the desolate road. Here, the houses were tucked back on their properties. Most glowed with lights, though they somehow felt a million miles away.
Unreachable.
I rounded the first corner, my breaths coming out of time, out of sync, my pulse careening in my veins.
I felt as if I’d run five miles even though I’d probably barely walked a quarter of one.
The sound of an approaching car grew behind me. I gulped for air as I increased my pace as the wash of headlights sprayed across the road. Terror gushed, and I scolded myself for being so reckless all while encouraging myself I was only being paranoid.
Apparently, I wasn’t great at self-pep talks because I nearly dumped my bag and sprinted into the woods when the car slowed and began to inch along beside me, though I stalled when the window rolled down and the tinkling voice called from within, “Okay, bestie, get your cute butt in my car before I have to toss you in. I can’t believe you’d think we’d let you go traipsing down this road alone in the middle of the night.”
Raven kept inching along beside me.
I finally fell to a full stop and gave her the first stupid defense I could find. “It’s ten.”
Raven rolled her sable eyes. “Whatever you want to call it, it’s dark and scary and there are bears in these woods. Do you think I’m going to leave you out here as bait?”
“I think there are worse things in the world than bears.”
Her hazards were suddenly flashing right as her door clicked open. She climbed out, barefoot and wearing the same sweats she’d been wearing during the movie, though now her hair was undone, a wild, disordered mess.
Another piece of myself fractured when she crossed the road and took my hand.
It wasn’t until then that I fully looked up at her through bleary eyes.
“Oh, Charleigh,” she whispered when she saw the state I was in. She threw her arms around me and tugged me close. At her embrace, I broke, and guttural sobs erupted from my chest.
She rubbed my back and swayed me before she finally murmured, “I know you’re used to doing things on your own, but you’re not alone anymore.”
I couldn’t respond, and she eased back, keeping hold of me by one hand. “Now, let’s get out of here before the bears actually eat us.”
I could tell she was only partially joking.
“I don’t think I can go back there.” I mumbled it toward the ground.
I wanted to. God, I wanted to, and I realized I’d never been in more danger than right then. The way I felt like giving in. And with River? With his reaction? With his confession that he’d done terrible things? I could only imagine what that would mean.
Reaching out, Raven touched my cheek. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here for you, and I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
I sniffled and swiped the back of my hand over my face. “Thank you.”
She led me toward her car. “Um, did I not tell you I was going to be the best bestie around? Get used to it.”
She opened the passenger door, took my bag, and tossed it into the backseat. “Now get in.”
I guessed River was right. She always did get her way.
THIRTY-EIGHT
CHARLEIGH
Raven followedme upstairs to my apartment door. I felt weak as I put the key into the lock.
