Page 101 of Conjure

I chuckle, then grimace. “I’m fine.”

“Fine? Are you kidding me? Your boyfriend will have both of our heads.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“You keep telling yourself that.”

She opens the passenger door and helps me inside. Lily looks pale, her eyes widened with worry. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened. I landed in dead rose bushes, is all. Those thorns hurt like a motherfucker.”

“You’re suicidal. That’s what you are,” Gwen says, climbing in behind the steering wheel and directing the car down the winding road. “What the hell were you thinking back there?”

“I wasn’t.”

“No shit.” She swipes strands of her green hair off her sweaty forehead. “Can you at least tell us about the plan beforehand next time?”

“There was no plan.”

Lily snickers, and my lips twitch as I hold up the bloodied paperwork. “But we got the fucking file.”

“That’s my girl!” Gwen high-fives me, and we squeal with victorious excitement.

Gwen swerves out of the way to avoid another crushed armadillo with its innards splattered on the sunbaked, cracked asphalt.

The sun beats down on the car, and I shake the travel fan in my hand when the batteries run low. “Cheap crap.”

Gwen glances at me as I aim it at my sticky face. I tilt my chin, feeling the air move against the hollow of my exposed throat, where my collarbones meet. I swipe a finger through the pool of sweat collected there and aim the fan at my forehead. Nothing works in this heat, but we know better than to open the windows.

“Want to head back to your place?” Gwen asks.

I shake my head. “No, let’s not involve the boys yet.”

“The longer you leave it, the more worked up he’ll get.” She smirks, stealing the fan from me.

“Give me that,” I pinch it back, chuckling when she smacks my arm.

“I’m starting to think you like winding him up like a toy. The poor guy is head over heels in love with you.”

I snort, brushing my damp hair away from my brow. “He’s not in love with me.”

Lily sticks her head between the seats. “You’re either blind or stupid.”

“Yes,” Gwen says, gesturing at her friend. “Even Lily agrees.”

I sigh, even as my stomach flutters, handing Lily the travel fan and looking out the passenger window at the passing scenery. A scarecrow that has seen better days sits in the middle of a large field, its outstretched arms lined with cawing birds.

“You don’t seem happy about it?”

I look away, meeting Gwen’s concerned gaze.

“Do you like him?” she asks.

“Of course, I like him.”

“But?”

The insistent sensation of worms crawling beneath my skin has me reaching for my sleeve. I scratch through the thin fabric, focusing on the throbbing pain. “I’m trying to keep him safe.”