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Chapter One

June

Taking a deep, calming breath, I settle into my first-class seat and try my best not to freak out.

Everything is going to be fine.

Flying is the safest way to travel. This is fine. I’m totally fine.

Although the whole being-confined-to-a-tin-can-while-thirty-thousand-feet-in-the-air issue is not the only thing I’m nervous about. To be honest, this whole trip is nerve-racking, but I have to do this. I can’t be a hermit all my life. I have to get out there and experience things in real life instead of the fictional worlds I usually live in.

People are still boarding the plane, travelers making their way slowly down the narrow aisle, dragging their carry-on bags behind them.

The flight attendant finds a break in the line and brings me the white wine I ordered when I first sat down, along with a small dish of warm roasted nuts.

“Thank you,” I say with a smile.

“Of course. Let me know if you need anything else,” the flight attendant chirps, squeezing by a few people to get back to the front of the plane.

“I could get used to this. I feel like a fucking princess,” I accidentally say out loud before I force my lips together. My stupid habit of saying out loud what I should only think has gotten me in trouble more times than I can count.

Luckily, the seat next to me is still empty. I’m kind of hoping it stays that way. Even in the more spacious seating, I don’t like the idea of sitting this close to a stranger for the next five hours.

What if that person is a psychotic serial killer who wears their victims’ faces, or worse . . . what if they want to talk to me? Gasp!

Wrapping my fingers around the stem, I lift my glass and take a few big gulps of the wine. It tastes too bitter for my liking, but I’m drinking to calm my anxiety, not to please my taste buds.

My phone vibrates in my sweater pocket, and I quickly set my wine aside to dig out my cell. I’m happy to see my sister’s face lighting up the screen. I answer the video chat, and a moment later Emily appears.

“You look like you’re about to go to a Halloween party dressed as someone on their deathbed,” I say before I can stop myself.

Emily’s hoarse voice comes through the speaker. “Jeez, tell me how you really feel, sis.” She coughs a few times, sounding like an eighty-year-old coal miner who has been smoking unfiltered cigarettes since he was twelve.

Her usual sun-kissed skin is so pale she looks almost gray, her bleached hair is greasy, and her nose is bright red.

“Sorry, Rudolph. I’ll try my best not to make fun of you having the flu,” I respond, making her giggle.

“I would appreciate that, Piper Pen,” she says, calling me by my pseudonym. “Seriously, though, I just wanted to check on you and say sorry again for not being able to go with you to the book signing.”

“I know, but it’s not like you chose to get sick,” I offer, hoping to make her feel better.

“Yeah, still. I know you don’t like to travel on your own, and you have never been to Las Vegas or a signing this big. I’m worried you are going to get overwhelmed.” Despite my social butterfly sister being the opposite of me, she has always been mindful of my anxiety. Only one of the many reasons why we are as close as we are.

“I’ll be okay,” I promise, though I’m not completely sure of that myself. “I’m sure I’m going to have a great time.”

Emily frowns, seeing through my fake confidence with ease. “Just remember, if it gets to be too much, go and decompress in your room. And if all else fails, fuck Vegas and catch the next flight home.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Right now I’m still on plan A.” I lift my wineglass and hold it in front of the camera.

“Ahh, liquid courage. That’s always a reasonable option. Just don’t go overboard and puke on someone . . . again.”

I roll my eyes. “That was two years ago. Will you ever let go of that?”

“There were chunks, June! Chunks!” Emily gags just thinking about it.

“It was pretty bad,” I agree, trying not to think about that unfortunate incident. “I really am sorry that happened.”

Emily gives me a look that says Of course you are, but not sorry enough before she scrunches up her nose and sneezes directly onto the phone.