Page 61 of You Fall First

“Right.” My mouth goes dry. “Just in case.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll try not to stalk you too much.” His lips twitch.

“Stalk all you want,” I say. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

Me

Maren.

Me

Help.

Me

I need you.

No more than a minute passes before she responds. Bless her.

Maren

On it. Am I bringing a shovel? Body bag? Ben & Jerry’s? Diet Dr Pepper?

Me

No, I need you to slap some sense into me.

Maren

I will not.

Me

Please.

Maren

I don’t condone violence. Unless we’re talking about Oliver. In which case we’re back to a shovel and body bag.

Me

Not literally. I just really need a big old figurative slap upside the head.

Maren

Why?

Me

I’m trapped in Noah Stadler’s bedroom.

Maren

Ummmm … In that case, I offered to bring alllll the wrong stuff.

Me

No, not like that. I’m babysitting his nephew, and he insisted on dragging the cushions and blankets and pillows from the couch in here to build a fort around me.