“Where do you think you’re going?”
I freeze.
“Do you want to drive the Porsche into the nearest tree and end it that way? I thought we had a deal.”
I slowly turn. River is standing in front of the tent with his arms crossed, but I don’t recognize his expression; it’s too hazy and dark for that.
Damn, why isn’t he asleep?
“Did you plan this from the beginning, or did it just occur to you?” He sounds composed, though anger smolders underneath. He comes toward me, step by step. “Don’t deny that you were planning to do just that.”
Heart pounding, I shake my head, but his tense posture and facial expression say he isn’t buying it. Now that the dull morning light hits his high cheekbones, I see his pitch-black look. He appears even more sinister than he did yesterday morning, as if I’d committed treason.
I shakily pull out my phone.I just wanted something to drink. And I’m hungry. I hold it out to him, extending my arm, and he comes close enough to read it.
“Hungry?” he asks incredulously.
My heart is racing.
“Hey, Tucks... you’re shaking.” The pitch-black expression disappears, leaving me so confused, I might have smiled if I wasn’t so afraid. Afraid he’ll laugh at me, abandon me, or something else.
“Why didn’t you say or write this to me? I would have gotten you something.” He holds out his hand, and I give him the key, keeping my head bowed. He immediately goes to the trunk and takes out the sandwich and Fanta.
I didn’t want to wake you, I explain.
“I don’t sleep much.” He pushes the Fanta and sandwich into my hands a little too forcefully, as if he still isn’t convinced. “At times, not at all.”
This must be a bad joke.
I clutch the can convulsively.
“I thought you were thirsty. I was surprised you didn’t touch anything all day.”
I slowly pull open the tab of the can and put my lips to it, but I can't take a sip—my throat has closed up. I pretend to take a sip so he doesn’t notice my ineptitude. I look up cautiously.
River raises his eyebrows.
Please, don’t think I’m lying to you, I plead silently. I want him to trust me.
“I think you’re thirsty.”
I have no choice but to write him the truth.I can’t, I type, my hand shaking as I hold the phone out to him.
He appears to be even more baffled than before. “What can’t you do?”
My face burns with shame.Eat and drink when someone is watching.I show him what I typed, and my cheeks get even redder.Freak,whispers through my head.
River eyes me intently, and I look away, then back at him.
Finally, he shrugs like it’s the most normal thing in the world, and his face softens. “Okay. Go back inside. I wanted to have another smoke anyway.”
I stare at him.
“Go on. I don’t smoke forever.” He turns, but I notice the grin on his face.
My heart is still pounding as I gratefully crawl into the tent and down the Fanta. Then, I inhale the sandwich in record time, even though it’s tuna, which I don’t normally like. Something in my stomach feels very warm. River doesn’t think I’m weird—or even if he does think I’m weird, he still likes me.
At some point, he comes back into the tent and lies down next to me. “Sleep well, Tucks. By the way, that wasn’t the car key you took from me earlier—it was just a house key.”
