"I didn't have to make anything up," he says calmly. "I just told people what I saw and let them fill in the blanks. People love to fill in the blanks."
I'm going to be sick.
"And then I made sure the rumor buzzed around the stands, told Wade and his buddies every nasty detail. I knew he'd run his mouth--he always does." Carlin shrugs. "Didn't think coachwould actually hit him, but hey. Worked out even better. He showed the whole town who he really is."
"My father had a heart attack," I whisper.
"I know." He shakes his head like it's a shame. "But that's on coach, not me."
"And then I left," I say slowly, piecing it together. "You thought we broke up."
He brightens. "Finally, right? I've been texting you all week, checking in. Waiting for you to tell me it was over." The light in him fades until he's nothing but darkness. "But you never did. So I knew it was time. I had to do somethingbigger."
The supportive texts.Hope you're okay. Thinking of you. Here if you need anything.He wasn't being a good friend, he was fishing for information.
"I had to show you," he continues, gesturing around the kitchen. "I had to make you see what we could have. What we're supposed to have. So I came here, made your favorite dinner, set everything up perfect." He smiles at me, soft and off. "And now you're home. We can finally talk about us."
I stare at him, realizing just how wrong this is, how wrongheis. He's not joking. He's not confused. He's sick. And he has me restrained for what will be hours at least before Grey gets here. I don't know what he'll do, how to manage him.
My phone buzzes again. I hope to god it's Grey, that he knows, that he sends someone, that he flies here as fast as he can.
That no one gets hurt.
Anger washes out into something else, some twisted up version of fear and helplessness. Tears prick my eyes. When Carlin looks up at me and sees them, he softens.
"Don't cry." He cups my cheek, thumbs it, my skin crawling under his touch. "It's going to be good. You'll see. Here, try some food."
He spears some chicken, twisting the fork to wrap pasta around it, then brings it to my lips. I pull back a little, and he frowns.
"I know you're hungry," he urges.
"I don't feel well."
He seems to accept this and puts the loaded fork back on my plate before turning to his. His face lights with nostalgia when he says, "Remember when we rode the Ferris wheel together?"
I nod, my heart thumping.
"It was the night of the fire muster, and me, Tate, and Grey all wanted to ride with you, but you chose me."
I didn't even know the other guys were interested, never mind angling to ride with me. And I certainly didn't choose him. I don't say anything, no idea how to handle this. Do I fight him? Try and break the delusion? Or do I play along? See if I can draw him into feeling safe enough to let me go?
I don't know. The latter feels safer.
"And every book we exchanged," he continues, "they all meant something. Every book you gave me was just another story like ours. About falling in love. The way you looked at me when we talked about them…you felt it too. I know you did."
"You've been a good friend to me," I say carefully.
"Sure, it started off that way--"
"You're one of my best friends," I tell him, the pain real because it was true.
"It's the best way to start a relationship. I understand you in a way he never could. Books, ideas, real connection. What does he know about Murakami or manga? He's not like us. He's not like me."
"I know." I swallow, working my wrists against the ties. The rungs in back are a little loose, and I wonder if I can't find my way out of this chair.Patience. "How did you know Grey wasn't here? Or that I was coming home?"
He sets down his fork, chewing with a proud look on his face. He shifts to pull his phone out of his pocket, opening it up to an app with three little dots on it. Two are here. One is on the highway between here and Louisville.
"I tagged your purse, your car, his truck." He sees the shock and horror on my face and says, "I missed you, Molly. I had to get you back, so I had to come up with a plan. If I know where you are, I can make sure you're okay."
