Page 117 of Soul So Dark

It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’ve been coming to Leland’s farm to party for three years and I’ve never even met the dude. Everyone knows him, or claims to, but he’s a phantom that dips in and out of the shadows, never drawing much attention. He’s like a fucking high school celebrity Sasquatch.

Legendary.

Personally, I think he does it on purpose so that no one will ever be able to pick him out of a lineup.

While Colson is having the time of his life, I only get to enjoy myself for about 15 minutes before Jordy walks through the door with Layla and Jamie. It crosses my mind to just leave, but then I decide I’d rather get wrecked and just deal with it than let Jordy fuck up yet another night of fun.

A girl reaches past me to grab a Solo cup and I step back to give her room.

“Hey, Alex.”

I glance over and recognize Alicia Moreno smiling at me with her dark eyes, freckled nose, and full lips the color of cranberry.

“Oh, congratulations,” she says as she pours herself a drink. “I heard you were the star striker this year with the most goals at state.”

I hesitate at her oddly specific observation and then catch sight of Aiden and Mason over her shoulder, watching me with shit-eating grins plastered across their faces.

“You did, huh?” I try not to laugh.

“But you’re pretty good, though, right?”

“So, I hear,” I reply, taking the bait. “Remind me where you’re going to school this year.”

“Case Western. I don’t move in until next month, though.”

“Fancy,” I smirk.

Alicia shakes her head. “Just lucky.” Then she leans in and lowers her voice. “I’m on ROTC scholarship.”

That part gives me pause. “Really?” The serendipity is astounding. “I just decided to enlist in the Marine Corps next year.”

“No, shit,” she grins. “I knew there was a reason I had a crush on you.”

I let her conspicuously weave her fingers through mine and stay that way for the better part of an hour before I lead her into the neon fever dream. Colson and Evie are still in the middle, whipping their heads around like they’re being exorcised.

It’s true what they say about your ears burning when someone is talking about you, because mine are on fire as soon as I wrap my arms around Alicia’s waist and her hips start moving with mine. It’s all but confirmed when I spy Jordy seething in the shadows. If it were anyone else, I might feel a sliver of guilt. But since it’s Jordy, I’m considering fucking this girl right here on the concrete, in front of everyone.

But I don’t. Instead, I bide my time. Moving with the hard bass, Alicia brushes her face against mine periodically, trying to gauge whether I’ll play her games. Fortunately, I love games. Especially the kind where I drag shit out so long and build so much tension that she’s the one begging me to leave. And as soon as she does, I take her by the back of the neck and finally kiss her like she’s been hoping I will.

“Can we go somewhere else?” she whispers in my ear.

Without a word, I drape one arm around her neck and guide her out of the neon glow. She eagerly follows me, and just as we reach the door, I catch a flash of blonde hair framing a fiery gaze brimming with malice. I glance over my shoulder as I pass, locking onto Jordy’s blue eyes.

And I wink.

After that night at Leland’s, it’s quiet for the next couple of days and I’m starting to feel like myself again. Aiden credits himself, as usual, reiterating his own opinions about the pitfalls of getting sucked into emotional situations that are supposed to remain shallow and meaningless.

“You mean having feelings?” I ask as he whips around a curve and guns his engine on the way to my house.

“Exactly.”

My relief is short-lived, though. Aiden turns into my driveway and continues down the hill, pulling off to the far side of the turnaround. When I climb out of his car, I notice something on the hood of my SUV. It looks like someone dumped a pile of dirt or garbage straight over the top.

“God, what now?” I mutter, slamming the door and crossing the driveway to get a better look.

Arriving at my front bumper, I peer over the grill guard at the soggy black pile of flakey scraps charred black. The closer I look, the more it resembles clothing. Or…

The remnants look familiar, but I don’t know how. That is, until I reach over and scoop some into my hand. Clumps of sloppy ash fall through my fingers, leaving a tattered chunk of fabric. Images begin to flash through my mind as my muscles seize and my stomach churns with bile.