Did you find the sign I left for you?
I set the phone down and head into the bathroom to wash my face and get out of these sticky clothes. The stench of the humidity feels like it’s clinging to my skin. My earlier intention had been to go to her trailer, but now… Fuck, I think I need some sleep. Sleep andplanning, if tomorrow night is going to be any sort of success.
After my shower, I lay down on the bed in the back and open my computer to find out any details online and on social media about the party. The conversations all seem innocent enough. Costumes. Excitement about mingling with possible musicians. It looks like patrons had to buy an extra ticket to get in—
My phone buzzes. I ignore it at first. Probably Kade checking in. I think his flight is getting in tomorrow.
It buzzes again, and this time, I look, but it isn’t my regular phone that’s buzzing.
My heart drops to my feet as I see my burner phone lit up across the room, and I stare at it for at least a minute before moving.
I only use that phone to text Bonnie.
No one else has the number.
I’m hesitant to check it. Even still… I have to know. Is it her or someone else?
My bare feet hit the ground, and I pad over to the couch to grab the device, to tap the screen and see the message written across it.
It’s a picture message.
FromBonnie.
My thumbs are shaking as I open the message.
The picture is simple enough. It’s only the poster lying on the floor of her trailer. My breath billows out a little more evenly. At least it isn’t a message telling me to fuck off—except that might make me even more obsessed.
I love her fight.
The phone dings again as another message comes through, and my entire body stiffens.
BONNIE
Will I ever find you with it?
I have been waiting on this day for what feels like ages.
I don’t want to scare her off. I don’t want to barrel in too eagerly.
And so, I reply back with only one simple word.
No.
CHAPTER FIVE
BONNIE
“So,I texted my stalker back last night,” I say to Zeb the following morning.
We’re sitting on a blanket outside, soaking in the sunrise and quiet dew before the shenanigans begin. My black circle sunglasses are perfect against the orange rays; the white ripped hoodie I’m wearing is just heavy enough to keep me from fucking freezing like I usually am—even if my pierced nips feel like they’re about to cut through this damn fabric.
I’m still in shock at the fact that I texted her.
Zeb continues staring out at the lawn and blows out the smoke from a freshly rolled joint. “You know what?” He shakes his head and chuckles. “That doesn’t even fucking surprise me. But because I’m curious: why the hell did you do that?”
I lean back on my left palm, inhale a hit from my cigarette—a dirty habit I still partake in on occasion—then pick a white wildflower from the clover field beneath us. “I wanted to know how she would react,” I reply.
Zeb considers me, and he doesn’t need to speak for me to know what he’s thinking.
