Page 86 of The Last Special Thing

Madisson was probably right and had more confidence to call it like it was than she did.

“If I said I will, I will,” Art said firmly, his agitation rising. Probably more from the come down than the attack on his character. Amelia rested her thumb against her lips.

“Okay, Art is going to be done,” Max affirmed.

“Okay, then I’ll let it go,” Madisson said tightly, shifting in the recliner.

They all looked around at each other again.

“Great! We need group bonding, and I came up with the thing.” Max smiled widely. “Shrooms.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Afew days later, Amelia picked up her car from the dealership. A quick-talking service advisor with salt-and-pepper hair handed her the keys. He beamed as he told her that he had thrown in a free car wash because of her family’s long history with the dealership, fixed the bumper in record time, and recommended that she consider upgrading to a new vehicle soon. She ignored everything he said, thanked him, then forged her mother’s signature on the bill. If her dad ever saw it, he would assume Lauren had authorized it. No one would trace her to the crime.

Amelia beeped the keys and located her pristine white car. She reached the driver’s side door, and the dozens of tiny hearts that Art had traced into the window were gone. On her drive to the apartment, she had a dreaded feeling that things would not get better with the magic mushrooms.

On the couch, she stared at the mushroom-filled jar on the living room table. Some were plump, others scrawny. Long stems, short stems. All different shades of dirt red. Her stomach grumbled, rejecting the idea of her consuming them.

Art sat beside her. “It’s going to be great.”

“I don’t think I like hallucinogenics,” she replied.

She had flat-out rejected the idea at the roommate meeting, and Max asked her to think about it more before he dismissed them.

Art tried again, his voice softer as his eyes met hers. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, but I promise shrooms are different. And I won’t be doing them with you. I’ll be your babysitter. Here with you every step of the way to make sure you are safe and having a good time!” He spoke with such enthusiasm, she wished she could match it.

Babysitting was a stipulation outlined at the meeting. Madisson and Amelia would rebuild their relationship through their magic mushroom trip, and the boys would take care of the girls. The summer was coming to a close, and Madisson would be starting school in a week. They all wanted to be on good terms.

Amelia rested her legs across Art’s lap. He circled his finger along her skin. Between his confidence and finger along her thigh, he had a habit of corroding her barriers and fogging her mind.

“I’ve been down this road twice now. I didn’t like the salvia. The acid trip was even worse.” Amelia reminded Art. Then added, “Why do you care so much?”

He sighed. “Because this one, I think you’re really going to like. It’s different, it’s natural.”

Natural, like the pot she also hated.

She didn’t hide her exasperation. “Okay, but this is the last one I try.” She looked apprehensively at the glass jar on the table.

“That’s good since I don’t currently have access to ayahuasca,” he joked.

Her eyes shifted to him, unamused. “How long will it last?”

“Probably six or so hours.”

She groaned. “I had planned to go to the gym tonight.”

“We’ll walk around a bunch. Skip it.” He leaned in closer to her and kissed her neck. The goosebumps rising on her skin betrayed her.

“Fine.” She swung her legs off of him.

Art reached for the jar and portioned out the doses. It was hard to tell what an even amount was with their different shapes. He quirked an eyebrow in contemplation as he divided them between Madisson and Amelia.

Max stood with his arms folded. His tongue flipped his lip ring, and he gave a subtle nod of approval.

Madisson took a bite of the mushroom cap, and her face twisted. “This is disgusting.”

Holding it by the top, Amelia took a bite from the stem. She washed it down with a gulp of water to combat the bitter taste. It was disgusting, but she was glad she wasn’t smoking or snorting anything.