"And what happens when Grey gets home?"
He smiles and picks up his fork again. "Don't worry about coach. I have a plan for that too."
Everything in me stills. "Plan?"
"It doesn't matter, Molls. You'll see by then what I already know--you love me just as much as I love you. And then we can finally be together."
He happily takes a bite of his supper.
Fear cuts through me in a cold, painful rush.
My two meager options for escape are problematic.
If I break his delusion, I have no idea what he'll do. Something in him has cracked--I can see it now, that hard glint I noted when I first walked in. I think back through our conversations, all the times something felt a little off, but I couldn't name it, thought I imagined it. The way he lingered a little too long, the questions about Grey, showing up exactly when I needed someone. I thought it was friendship. I thought it was kindness.
I had no idea what it truly was. And now, I have to find my way out.
If I play along, he'll let me go, once. I don't know if I can outrun him. And if I can't, he's going to tie me back up and this time, he won't let me go. He'll probably take me somewhere else. And if he does, no one will be able to find me.
A third option arises--bide my time, keep us here, and pray Grey gets here in time. In time for what, I don't know. But I feel the clock ticking like a physical thing, driving me into the ground with every second.
I take a deep breath, wondering how long I can drag this out before I lose him. But I can't think about that, not now.
"I'm sorry, Carlin. I…I didn't know you felt this way. When did you realize…all this?"
He lights up like he's been dying to talk about it, launching into the story with every little detail.
My phone buzzes again in my purse.
And I pray.
CHAPTER 55
SPEED LIMITS
GREY
Hi, this is Molly, I can't get to my phone right now--
I end the call, hissing a swear.
By my estimation, she should be home, or close to it. But she'd answer if she was in the car. Shehasto be home. Maybe she's asleep. Busy doing something. In the shower. The bath. Something. There's a reason. She's fine.
My guts twist in protest.
Stop it. You're not fucking psychic--you're overreacting. Give her time. If you haven't heard from her in an hour, then you can worry.
The thought doesn't comfort me.
But my heavy foot on the gas does.
I've gone down the phone tree already in my mind. Cass and Wilder are a couple of towns over with Cricket at her grandparents'. Remy and Jessa are in Sevierville for Remy's Mountaineer's game. Tate is stuck at the fire station, having picked up a shift, though he said they could drive by at least. There's no one else I can ask to check on her who wouldn't thinkI looked like a stalker. So she's not answering her phone. Even in an hour, I can't justify it to just anyone.
So I try and shake it off. Tell myself she's fine again.
And drive like a bat out of hell to get to her, praying my gut is wrong.
CHAPTER 56
