A kidnapping’s not an easy thing to plan, after all. And this one’s got to be just right.
21
Twyla
I let Grace loop her arm through mine and lead me into the enormous, open-sided structure, past play areas set up like booths in a craft fair. I barely notice the kinksters calling for volunteers or discussing the benefits of specific tools or structures or… Wow. Okay. Electric components. Not something I’ve seen before.
“You okay?” Grace leans in to ask.
“Dandy,” I reply, though it’s not the whole truth. I mean, yes. Yes, I’m good. I’m here and it’s wild and I’m loving this place.
But I came here to confront Zion and I’ve miserably failed at my task. What was it I wanted, originally? Through the haze of everything that’s happened, I can barely recall. What I do know is that he hasn’t suffered any repercussions at all.
The thing is, now that I’m here, in this transformative place with its wonderful people and accepting vibe, I don’t want to battle it out with him anymore. The realization is freeing. I’m making friends here and living a life I’d never have experienced without this whole crisis.
But, my god, could Zion just be…I don’t know. Simpler?
I press a fist to the aching spot on my chest and try not to think about his words:I shut my eyes and pretended it was you.
What does that even mean? That he wanted me, but for some reason known only to him decided he couldn’t have me? “He pretended she wasme,” I say to my new friends. “He just told me that.”
They stop walking and huddle around me.
“Wow,” says Max.
Laughter erupts in one of the stalls. There’s a different feeling to the scenes here tonight. It’s more casual than the dungeon last night. Friendly, easy-going. I’m too stunned to be able to enjoy it.
Grace nods slowly, seeming unsurprised. “From Zed, that’s a lot.”
“I know. I just don’t know what todowith it right now.”
“Nothing?” suggests Max.
“Yeah.
Which won’t be easy, because with that confrontation outside, Zion did two things. And, god, did he do them well.
First of all, he reminded me of this damn marriage hanging over our heads. We’ve got to take care of it. The sooner, the better. Hell, with just two weeks under the belt, maybe we can get an annulment or something.
I swallow, absolutely hating the sound of that.
He thought ofme?
Why is he the most confusing, infuriating man in the world?
And the second thing he’s done is gone and made me worry about the kidnapping I signed up for. I mean, does the idea appeal to me? God, yes. Does it scare me, too? Absolutely.
But I really, really want to do it. The fact that my brain’s put Zion in the main role is only slightly vexing.
“So, you signed up for a kidnapping, huh?” Grace reads my mind as she starts to lead us deeper into the massive space.
“Yeah, I didn’t…” I sigh. “I did it more to annoy him than anything else.”
Max leans. “You going through with it?”
“I kind of have to, don’t I?”
“No!” Says Max, always earnest. “You’ve got a choice. Cancel if you—”
