Page 18 of Romero and Juliette

“Always.”

“Would you rather know what people are thinking or be invisible?”

“Invisible,” he says, no hesitation.

“So you could sneak around?” I ask, unable to hide my curiosity.

“Nah, I just sometimes need a break from people,” he admits. “What about you?”

“I think I’d like to know what people are thinking. But only if I could turn it off. I think that power could get overwhelming very quickly.”

“Possibly. But some people don’t have two thoughts to rub together.”

I chuckle. “Well, that’s true.”

I am in trouble, I know that much. I force myself to pick up my phone and check in the app.

Mustang_Ranger: Sounds great. I’ll see you then.

Mustang_Ranger: Looking forward to finally meeting you.

FleetwdLvr05: Me too!

And I am. That’s not a lie. I just know that tonight will more than likely be a disappointment. I’m sure Ranger is a great guy. But I know he’s not Cruz and that thought just makes me already feel like the date is a failure.

chapter

eight

Cruz

The last hour of the car ride was tense.

For me. I don’t think Buttercup noticed.

It started after we finished playing her last game. She put a playlist on. It was all stuff I like, stuff I listen to. Which, I knew, obviously from the first time I saw her at the garage singing Drift Away.

But this particular playlist was more specific than that. It was at least eighty percent Fleetwood Mac.

They were a very successful, very popular band. But she knew every word to every one of their songs.

Just like FleetwdLvr05.

Coincidence? Maybe.

But there was more. She’s meeting a friend tonight.

That could be a coincidence, sure.

On more than one occasion, she typed something on her phone, and my phone—hidden in my jeans pocket—would vibrate with an alert.

All of it could mean nothing. Or maybe it means everything.

We’ve checked into the hotel for the night. One room. One bed. Because, of course, that’s how this would all go. It makes sense. All the hotels in the area are packed with people who’ve been displaced by the recent storm. We’re lucky that Liam called ahead and reserved a room for me when we knew I’d have to make this trip.

I don’t know whether to hope I’m wrong or be grateful I’m right.

She is currently in the bathroom getting ready. Ready to meet her friend.