Beckett drives.
Theo reaches into the pocket of his jacket, and I look at what he's pulled out.
A black fabric hood.
I stare at it.
"Are you serious?" I say. "Are you actually—"
"It's a surprise," he murmurs.
Finally, some words. But it’s those specific words that make my teeth grind.
I knock it out of his hand.
He picks it up off the car floor without comment.
And then he puts it over my head. And I let him.
The world goes dark.
I sit in it with my jaw tight and my hands in fists in my lap. My heart is loud and complicated, and it has nothing to do with fear.
The car moves.
Nobody speaks. No music plays. They just drive.
When the car finally stops, my heart starts to race.
I’ve lost track of time, but the time I’ve spent living out each scenario in my head feels like a lifetime.
The engine cuts. And doors open.
Someone's gloved hand grabs my elbow, guiding me out of the car and onto the gravel.
I walk into a warm room, and the hood comes.
I blink, adjusting my eyes.
I’m at Cody’s lake house again. I stare at the bed with disgust, wondering how many girls Cody has brought here for his little online business.
The sight makes me sick.
Then I look at all three of them.
Theo moves first.
He guides me toward the bed.
I plant my feet. "Don't."
He guides me anyway and sits me on the edge of the bed.
I stand back up immediately.
He sits me back down.
I stand up again.
