Page 251 of Ominous: Part 1

“I’m not working.” He gives me so much. I want to give him honesty, for once.

He’s quiet a moment and I keep my face turned away from him. “You’re going to seeAmanda.”He says her name like he hates it.

“Mom is coming.” Reece, in a shocking turn of events, decided to stay home and let my mom and I have some time together, alone.

“Why did you lie to me?”

Lies are easy.But I decide to tell him the truth, because of how many he gave me Wednesday night. “I didn’t want you to worry, about me seeing… anyone else.”

There’s a moment’s silence. Then, “Look at me.”

I do, squeezing my backpack straps tighter as I meet his eyes. He still has his hand planted beside my head.

“You’re not going to seehim.”

I don’t know if he means Nic or Richard/Zach, but I just nod once. “I’m not,” I agree. I won’t.

He drops his hand, then grabs mine from my strap, linking our fingers together. My heartbeat quickens at our touch, but I don’t pull away. He squeezes softly, running his thumb over the back of my hand. “Don’t lie to me again, okay?”

I know I probably will, but I don’t argue. I simply say, “Okay.”

40

Eden

Mom gaveme my phone back for the trip, pulled out an aux cord from inside the center console of the green van and thrust it into my hands.“You control the music, you get your phone, and a beach vacation. What could possibly go wrong this weekend, hmm?”

There are a few things, I think, but I said nothing.

“Mount Everest”by Labrinth plays for the thirteenth time in thirty minutes, and Mom smiles at me, cutting her gaze my way, but she says nothing. There’re two enormous cups of tea in the cupholders between us, one sweet (hers) and one unsweet (mine).

Mom has finished hers off and is already looking for a place to pull off the highway because she has to pee, and I’m texting Eli. Turns out, hedidsend me a lot of memes. Art and literary ones, including one aboutThe Ecstasy of St. Teresaby Lorenzo Bernini, in comparison to a drunk celebrity. I had to bite my tongue to stifle my laughter.

He sent photos of his dad’s beach house, which looks like a mini mansion tucked away on the sand, questions about what I was doing, then questions about what thehellI was doing. A few threats to come over, concerns for my wellbeing, and sexually suggestive texts about what he planned to do with me when he found out why I was blowing him off (every pun intended).

Now, I tell him where we are on the journey and he sends me a photo of his pool, whereheis. I miss the chlorine scent wrapped in his already.

I cross one leg over the other, slouching down in my seat as I text him.

“Can I have a milkshake?” I ask Mom at the same time I text Eli.

Me: I miss you, what’s wrong with me?

His reply is immediate, as they’ve all been.Him: Same thing that’s wrong with me.

I smile to myself, and I hope Mom doesn’t notice. I’m sure she realizes I’m texting him, but she’s just happy I’m going with her to the coast, she wants to see some of our old neighbors, and probably lie in the sand, without worries of scrubbing toilets or polishing countertops. Thankfully, she hasn’t brought him up at all.

Mom laughs. “Sure,” she says, sounding a little thrown off. “What kind?”

Me: Favorite ice cream?

Him: Moose tracks.

I swallow down my laughter as I repeat the flavor to Mom, in answer to her question.

She laughs herself. “Guess I need to go somewhere fancy for that.”

“Guess so.” My eyes are still on my phone, my fingers flying over my screen. For no reason at all, I think of my conversation with Dominic this morning.