Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Sloane sighs before lowering her voice. “Trust me. There are some things you don’t understand—”
“Right, yeah. This again. I’m too stupid and naive, right? But you know what? I’m not convinced that’s true—it feels like just a thing you and Dad and Fenn tell me to keep me in this bizarre emotional cage. Because God forbid I should wander outside your arbitrary boundaries to experience anything for myself.”
She flinches. “It’s not like that. You know it isn’t. I’m looking out for you.”
“Okay, well, do me a favor and don’t. I can make my own decisions from now on.” I clench my jaw. “Consider yourself relieved of duty.”
“Fine.” Sloane throws up her hands. “Have fun with that. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Yeah. Whatever. Bye.”
I practically shove her out of my room and lock the door. Sloane’s always felt this self-imposed compulsion to mother me, which for a while now has felt more like smothering.
Tonight, for maybe the first time, I can breathe. Lawson gave me that.
I settle on the bed and take Silver out to feed her. With her tiny, hairless body and no visible eyes or ears, she looks more like an alien creature from a sci-fi movie. And yet I’m already in love with her. According to Dad, I got my obsession for animals from my mom. Apparently, on one of their dates early in their relationship, Mom found a stray kitten on her way to the restaurant, and rather than ignore it, she scooped up the half-starved, mangy thing, tucked it in her purse, and kept the date. Dad finally suspected something when her purse kept meowing over dinner.
“You loved that cat,” I say softly, talking out loud to Mom. “Dad said you cried for days after he ran away. I wish I’d gotten to meet him.”
Silver makes a squeaking noise as she finishes eating. I stimulate her button to release her urine and stool, which is yellowy-green. Supposedly that means healthy. Afterward, I gently pinch her neck to check for dehydration and examine her body to make sure no inch of skin is blue or shriveled. Once I’m satisfied she looks okay, I tuck her back in her warm, cozy nest and close the box. She squeaks a few more times before going quiet.
God, I want her to survive. I know it’s unlikely. Or at least, my head knows that. But my heart desperately wants Silver to live.
On my nightstand, my phone buzzes and I sigh when I see Fenn’s name.
Obviously, I should ignore him. Or turn my phone off again until he’s given up. Except if Sloane doesn’t bother to give Fenn the all-clear, he’ll show up at my window in the middle of the night demanding answers. Or worse, the front door. And tonight I’d just prefer some decent sleep.
I answer the call with a curt, “What do you want, Fenn?”
“Casey, what the fuck?” There’s a short pause. “I wasn’t expecting you to answer.”
“Well, I’m here. What do you want?” I repeat.
“Sloane called me hours ago demanding to know what I’d done with you. Like I’d dumped your body in a ditch.”
We’re both quiet a moment while he considers his unfortunate choice of words.
“I’ve been all over town looking for you,” he says, sounding frustrated.
“Yeah, I saw your messages. But I’m home now, so call off the dogs.”
“That’s it? You’re not going to acknowledge how terrified we all were? Sloane had to be fully out of her mind to call asking me for help.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say. It was a lot of freaking out over nothing.”
“We were worried about you.” His voice becomes low. Husky. “I was worried.”
“So now you feel like I owe you something?” I laugh sharply. “I’m supposed to do some penance or whatever because you were worried?”
“What? No,” he mutters. “I’m just saying. You could have called somebody back. Shit. Your family was an inch from letting loose helicopters and search parties. After everything you’ve all been through—”
“Oh, okay, great. Tell me more about my family’s personal traumas. In fact, if there’s more on the subject you’d like to illuminate, I’m listening.”
It’s like he was born with his foot in his mouth.
“I’m sorry. That’s not what… I’m just saying…” He trails off with a strangled expletive. “I was worried. That’s all.”
“This is your last reminder, Fenn—I’m not yours to worry about anymore. Leave me alone.”
I end the call and throw my phone on the bed. Then I clench my fists and strain my neck, silently shouting into the open void of the ether until my jaw hurts and my whole body burns.
Why did it have to be him?
Any idiot could have wandered by the boathouse that night. Anyone could have slipped away from the dance to drink or get high. A couple sneaking off to get all hot and sweaty. Anyone else but Fenn.