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“I… I don’t know.”

Alice shifts to face me, taking my hand. “Okay, a different question. What if itdoeswork?”

I nod, looking back down at the beautiful ring. “Right.”

I feel Alice watching me. “Is there someone else?”

I meet her gaze, taken aback by the question. “Alice, I love Connor.”

Alice smiles. “Good. Well then, you’re going to marry Connor.” She squeezes my hand. “You’re going to be happy.” She squeezes my hand again. “You’re going to have a million of his crotch goblins.” My lips twitch. “And you and I are going to grow old together.” We burst out laughing, and she pulls me into a hug. “This is right, Sum. We can overcome our pasts. We can decide not to let them define us.” Her words help, at least for the moment. I hug her tight, thanking the realms for the best friend in the world.

A few margaritas later, after our conversation devolved into incomprehensible snorts and giggles, we both stumble to our rooms. I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. My fingers tap against my phone at my side, and I pick it up. I open the conversation with the stranger, staring at the call button.

Then my phone screen turns black except for the words,

Incoming call:

Unknown.

112

Summer

Istare at the screen as the phone continues to vibrate. Cautiously, I swipe my thumb along the bottom, accepting the call.

“H-hello?”

“Little fae.”

I relax immediately as the stranger’s voice sends a trickle of warmth down my spine.

“Stranger.” I exhale.

“What’s wrong?”

“I get a call from a blocked number while playing cat and mouse with a serial killer? It’s going to freak me out.”

The stranger laughs darkly, and I relax.

“How did you get my number?”

“I’ve always had it.” I hear his smirk.

“Right. Good with computers,” I say wryly.

He laughs again, and then I hear him sit down. “Is everything all right?”

I sigh. “Yeah.”

“Doesn’t sound like it?”

I stare up at the ceiling. “Can we just talk about… anything else for a while?”

The stranger clears his throat. “Anything?”

“Anything,” I whisper.

“Would you like to hear about my last trip to Faerie?”