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“Don’tgo outside,”Iblurt out breathlessly.

Thecurtain falls. “Hellno.Whatever’sout there can wait till it’s light out.”Hekisses the top of my head before heading toward his room. “Getsome sleep, baby.”

Myheart still races asImove toward the sink.Afresh glass of water eases the growing dryness in my throat, but the hair on the back of my neck stands on end asIlinger and stare down the drain.

Rotteneggs overwhelm my senses.

Glancingup, a dark figure stands on the edge of the porch, watching me with glimmering eyes under a cowboy hat.

Itake a step back.

Theytake a step forward.

Mybody turns, andImake a run for my room.

Chapter9

“Mine”

–Taproot

Zak’sfingersplay with mine, all wet and pruning from the river, hot from being in the sun all day.Whenhe grins lazily under his dark aviators from his tube, my breath catches.

“Whydo you look at me like that?”

Iblink the haze of desire away, refocusing on my boyfriend through my sunglasses. “Whatd’you mean?”

Helets go of my hand and grabs a plastic hook on my tube.Igrip my cold can ofBigRedtight as he spins me around untilI’mface-to-face with him.Hissnake bites glint in the sun, and allIwant is to kiss them.

Hedoesn’t forget to take my hand again.

“It’slike you get this dumb, blank look on your face whenIsmile at you.”

Beright back, going to keel over and die from embarrassment.

Clearingmy throat,Ishrug and reply, “Idunno what you’re talkin’ about.”

Hesnorts. “Uh-huh.Sure, babe.”

God, my insides melt every time he calls me that.

It’sjust us two and another small group of people on this part of theGuadalupeRiver—sequestered, quiet, and peaceful on an absurdly warmNovemberday.

“Whatdo you want besidesTimelessto take off?”

Mybrows knit. “What?”

Hepinches each of my fingertips, a small smile remaining on his lips. “Marriage, kids, trip to the moon—what do you want?”

“Oh.”Ichew on my lip. “What’swith the serious question so soon?”

“Nothin’ serious.Justwanna know where you wanna end up, is all.”

Thefrown eases on my features asItear away from the small shock and dig for the answersI’vethought about here and there. “I’mgonna be the big wig calling the shots atNYB.AndwhenI’mnot planning the festival,Iwanna be holed up in my own recording studio working onTimelesstracks or some other metal bands.And…Iwanna get married one day.Havekids and a house, all that ‘beautiful life’ shit.”

Zak’sbeam widens as he squeezes my hand. “Whatwould you name ‘em?”

“What?”