‘Really?’ she asks, not taking her eyes off me. ‘That good?’
‘Out of this freaking world, Monz.’ I pause. ‘And there’s more.’
Her mouth drops open when I tell her about the speedway. How my body was splayed open, an offering for him, but it was cut short when Dellenty showed up.
She rolls her lips searching for what to say. Then she grins. ‘Fucking finally.’
I frown. ‘What do you mean?’
‘What I said. Fucking finally.’ Her green eyes swirl with myriad emotions, none of them judgement. ‘You two have been playing the longest game of foreplay known to humanity. I’m glad he’s finally grown a pair and made a move. I guess the tattoos have made him tougher, huh? I nearly didn’t recognise him. He looks so different.’
‘In more ways than one.’
Monique studies me closely, saying nothing but I can feel her questions. I sneak a look back toward him, but he’s no longer there.
The line moves and we step forward.
‘Why do you think he’s back, then?’
‘Beats me.’ I shrug. ‘Oh, and you should know Renny is here. Like, here, here.’
‘What?’
‘He’s fixing my Mustang and gave me a lift. I left him in the car park, though I think he’s gone home.’
‘Ugh, that man. For his sake, I hope so.’
I look ahead, taking in what queue we’re standing in for the first time. My insides twist.
‘Oh hell, no, Monique.’
‘Aww, c’mon,’ she pleads, linking into my arm. ‘It’ll be fun.’
‘You know I hate the dark. I really don’t want to do this.’
‘You said it was my pick,’ she snarks.
I wince. She’s right. ‘I don’t want to be groped by a masked man.’
Although … maybe a certain masked man.
No. Stop it.
‘So you can race down a drag strip at I don’t even know what speed, but you’re gonna be afraid of a man in a mask?’ Shaking her head, she grabs my hand. ‘We’re going.’
My protest falls on deaf ears as she pulls me forward. An attendant dressed as a clown lifts the rope.
‘Do y’all know the safe word if you want out?’ he says in a bored tone, completely out of character. We both shake our heads. ‘Say, “I chicken out”,’ he explains, then ushers us to go through. ‘Follow the lights.’
Stepping through the doors, it’s cold, like the air-conditioning is blasting at full capacity. In the corner of the spiderweb-and-tombstone-decorated room is a large button. The sign above readsPress Mein oozing green letters. The dim lights flicker erratically, while overhead speakers create the ambience of creaky floorboards.
‘Let’s get this over with,’ I sigh.
Monique hits the red button. Instantly, we’re plunged into darkness.Fuck.My hands turn clammy and I feel my pulse hammer in my ears. I grab Monique and nuzzle into her back, urging her forward.
‘Go!’ I nudge her forward.
‘I can’t see anything,’ she snaps.
