Just like that, the lighthearted mood dies.
“For what?” he demands.
“I’m going into town tonight.”
“For what purpose?”
I stare at him. “For the purpose of fun.”
His expression darkens. He pauses, as if thinking it over. Then he shakes his head. “No. You’re not going.”
I start to stack our dishes. “Hey, Wyatt, guess what? You have no say in how I spend my time.”
“Maybe not, but one message to Man Chat, and I know someone who’ll beveryinterested in your plans.”
“Oh no!” I roll my eyes. “You realize my dad is across the country, right? He can tell me not to go to a bar tonight until he’s blue in the face. But guess who’s still going to the bar?”
“Oh, so now it’s a bar?”
“It was always a bar,” I say in exasperation. “I want to go out. Meet people.”
“Guys?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. What do you care?”
It’s not like you’re interested in me, I almost snap, but I’m not opening that can of worms. Best to leave our past encounters where they belong—inside the small dungeon in my gut labeled HUMILIATION. Bringing up his lack of interest won’t lead toanything but an uncomfortable conversation.
I’m about to carry the plates inside when a flood of light suddenly illuminates the deck.
Wyatt and I both swivel our heads in alarm. I can’t see it, but there’s a boat down below, its lights slicing through the dark water. And since everything carries on this lake, we can hear them perfectly.
“Darlie?” someone says in a loud hiss. Sounds like a man.
We exchange a look.
“Are you Darlie?” I murmur.
He chokes out a laugh. “No, I’m not Darlie.”
“Darlie.” Another voice now. A higher pitch but also male. “Show yourself.”
What the hell is happening?
My eyes widen when Wyatt heads for the stairs. I swiftly reach for his arm and tug him backward.
“Stop that,” I whisper. “Don’t gotowardthe crazy people in the lake. What if they have a gun?”
“Why would they have a gun?”
“Maybe they’re trying to kill Darlie.”
He ponders that for a moment, then shrugs. “I think we’ll be fine.”
Ignoring my hushed protests, he bounds down the stairs, and because I can’t let him die alone, I hurry after him.
“Darlie! We heard you the other night. You were crying out. You want someone to see you.Wesee you.”
The boat is almost directly at our dock now.
