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H ours later, we take a break for an early dinner. But as soon as Jax and I are out on the sidewalk, he tells me seriously, “Sunday’s almost over , Ash .”

“ Yeah ?”

He runs a hand through his long hair, blowing out a slow breath. “I know this is important. I get it. But I just find it kind of hard to believe that three teenagers are going to solve murders and slay ghosts — ”

“Four,” I correct him, pushing his shoulder .

“I just worry about what this means for you in the long run …”

“It’s once,” I say, “Just once. And how many times have you seen me pull off completely undeserved B’s? My concentration has slipped since high school, it’s true, but I’m not going to fail out of college because I skipped my homework one weekend .”

“I just worry,” Jax repeats, stubbornly .

“I know you do.” I want to take his hand again. I want to tell him how much I appreciate that I make him worry but that he never gives up on me. But Luke and Mave follow us onto the sidewalk, and I can’t say something so sentimental in front of them. Mave locks the gray door behind us .

“I sure hope we don’t have to fall back on Plan B,” Luke says, settling a hand on my shoulder briefly, as if to take away the awful, teasing nature of his words .

Jax, who has started towards the car, turns back. His face changes, irritation sparking in his amber eyes. “Yeah? What’s Plan B ?”

“Using this girl as bait.” Luke squeezes my shoulder before his hand slips off to open the driver’s side door. “By the way, you should dye your hair .”

“ Excuse me ?”

“It’s not a matter of personal taste, trust me. All the dead girls were blondes .”

“That might be a coincidence .”

“Sure. But why take chances?” He glances at me in the rearview mirror as I swing myself into the backseat; his lips are quirked up slightly, teasing me, above that strong, square jaw. He’s so pretty that it’s almost possible to forgive him for being an asshole. “We can stop by CVS on the way. The Hunters can even fund your new look .”

“Too bad they can’t fund you a hotel room .”

Mave frowns in the passenger seat as Luke glances over his shoulder, propping his elbow on the seat back, to back out of the space. Mave says, “But we do have a hotel room .”

“Oh, don’t even get her started.” Luke shakes his head. “An opinion on every fucking thing .”

It’s not the worst thing he’s said to me, but there’s something about how condescending he is—when they need me --that irritates me .

“No wonder you need porn,” I tell him. “I can’t imagine any girl would want to be around you .”

“Yeah,” Luke says. “Well, mostly I need it because my girlfriend was murdered this past summer. But you can go fuck yourself.” His tone is pleasant, even though his words are shocking .

“Luke,” Mave chides, his tone shocked .

“What? She should know. This is no game. Nothing for civilians.” He glances at me in the rearview again, his eyes seething .

I feel stricken and angry and stupid and guilty all at once. There’s nothing I can think of to say, so I turn and gaze out the window .

Jax settles his hand on my knee, kindly, but I can’t bring myself to do anything but stare at the apartment buildings and bars flickering by outside the window .