“That’s your problem?” I laughed. “You’re not a psychic.”

  “Yes, I know, but it’s still scary.”

  “It’s only in your head. With everything going on, too much is weighing on you at once. It’s a lot of negative energy.” I took both of her hands in mine. “Just let whatever happens happen. We’re almost out of here. Julliard is just a grasp away. Try to get back into focus for the sake of your grades.” I made her smile.

  She grabbed my face and kissed me. “You’re right. All of this shouldn’t be for nothing.” My point exactly. She bumped shoulders with me. “Let’s get ice cream.”

  I kissed her forehead. That was when I saw the guy standing a few feet behind her, eyes glued on us. He looked strangely familiar. That scruffy beard and dark hair. The long dark jacket even though it was late summer. Yeah. I recognized him. It was the creepy guy from the search party.

  12

  Eddie

  Now

  I grabbed Brooklyn’s arm and tugged her to hurry. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Hey, what’s the matter?” She frowned at my sudden mood change.

  “Inspector Gadget,” I muttered, flicking my eyes to the figure behind her.

  She laughed nervously. “Huh?” She checked over her shoulder, and with a startle, gasped. “That guy from the search party? What is he doing here?”

  “Obviously following us. He must be a cop.” I peeked back, and sure enough, he was heading our way. Shit. “Come on.” I picked up speed, bumping and parting through people. I clutched Brooklyn’s hand tighter, my pace swift. I glimpsed the creepy asshole’s pace quicken, too. Breathlessly, we reached her car and dodged inside, me behind the wheel. I started it up and sped away just as the guy stepped off the sidewalk in a mad dash.

  “Who the hell is that?” Brooklyn cried.

  “I have no idea. But he’s definitely following us.”

  “You think he’s trailing us now?” She turned in her seat again.

  “No way he hopped in his car and chased us that fast.” I sounded confident, yet my eyes flicked to the rearview mirror for assurance.

  “Eddie?” Brooklyn put her hand on top of mine. If the steering wheel were alive, I’d have choked the life out of it.

  “What are we going to do? If he is a cop, we can’t keep running from him. That makes us look guilty.”

  I sighed, tugging my hand through my hair. “I know that. It’s bothering me what the hell he could want. We didn’t leave any evidence or anything. That I know of…” I glanced at her.

  “Maybe he simply wants to question us about Riley. Isn’t that his job? To talk to his family and friends? No one said he had anything.”

  I shifted. “We have to get our stories straight. If someone’s gonna be coming around asking questions, we should be consistent.” She pressed her lips together, twirling on a lock of hair. “Right?” I checked to see if she was with me.

  “Or—we could leave the anonymous tip I talked about. If the cops find Riley’s car, it’ll at least steer them in another direction. They won’t consider foul play.”

  “Let’s tell the others. I think it’s the best solution, too. The Donahues get closure, and it’s a shut case.” If only things were that simple.

  Brooklyn climbed into my lap about an hour later as our kiss deepened. Her dad called to say he was working a double shift and wouldn’t be home until tomorrow afternoon. Her mom was already away with Brooklyn’s kid sister on a class trip. We were free to spend the entire night together if we wanted, but it was a school night, and neither of us could risk a late hang out with the SAT test on Friday.

  I tangled my fingers in her hair as we made out passionately, our tongues wrestling. She pulled away to catch her breath, resting her face against mine. She smelled and tasted like peaches.

  I licked my lips and faintly peeked at her. She took off her top and her hair cascaded in rivulets down her pale, bare shoulders.

  “What are you doing? Somebody could see us,” I said, holding her shirt to her body.

  She slowly smiled, shaking her head. “No one’s here but us, and this beautiful scenery,” she whispered, carefully leaning in for a kiss. She took the shirt and tossed it on the passenger seat and pressed my hands into the small of her warm back, easing closer.

  I shuddered and sighed into her mouth as we kissed some more. She ran her fingers down my chest and abs and tugged at my belt. My eyes closed as she trailed kisses along my neck while unfastening my belt. As I relaxed against the seat, I heard a car door shut. My lids flew open. “Did you hear that?” I caught her hands.

  She stared, listening too. “No…” she answered, slowly.

  I slid her to the passenger seat and peered out the back window. “Is that someone’s silhouette near that tree?” I whispered.

  She sighed, glancing to see, and ducked. “Maybe. I don’t know.” She quickly slipped her shirt back on.

  I locked the doors and started up the car. We were not about to stick around and find out. Brooklyn didn’t speak a word the entire ride back to my place. I could tell that my paranoia annoyed her. There may have been nobody back there, but I couldn’t help myself. We were in some pretty deep shit.

  I shut off the engine and took her hand. “I’m sorry about tonight.”

  She forced a smile. “It’s okay, really.”

  “No, I wanted it to be special for you to ease some of the tension, yet all I did was make it worse by being so jumpy and on edge.”

  “It isn’t as if I don’t understand, Eddie. There’s so much going on right now, I can’t stay focused. I feel like I’m losing it all the time.”

  I nodded in agreement, remembering my hallucination about killing Hank. “Yeah, I know what you mean. But you don’t have to go through it alone. I’m always here for you.”

  She glanced away, keeping her gaze low. “I know,” she muttered. She wanted to say something else, but hesitated. I wanted to know what was on her mind, yet didn’t want to push her. She closed her mouth and smiled. “You’re sweet, Eddie.” She kissed me. “Don’t feel bad about tonight. I still had a great time. Hey…” She got an idea. She peeked out at my house. “Since we’re already here, why don’t you show me to your room?”

  “Brooklyn, I don’t think that’s a…” I heard a glass shatter inside the house instantly. Hank. Where was Wesley? “Brooklyn, go home,” I said, fumbling with the door handle. I stumbled from behind the wheel.

  “What’s wrong? Eddie?” She grabbed my arm, but I stripped free. Once outside the car, the shouting and thudding were even more audible. Hank was beating the hell out of Wes again.

  “Brooklyn, I mean it. Go,” I called over my shoulder, stomping up the sinking deck.

  “Why are you such a fuck up?” Hank yelled from inside.

  I staggered into the hall. What was this about now? Wes getting fired? That was the only thing Hank could keep tabs on. I found them in the kitchen, Hank with his hands around Wes’s throat. Wes lost consciousness.

  “Let him go, Hank!” I charged him, hooking my arm around his neck, locking him in a chokehold. I tugged and tugged until he dropped Wes, his body collapsing in a heap. “Hank, calm down, please.” He reeked of booze and sweat.

  Grunting, he thrashed violently, turning and slamming me against the wall. His head knocked against mine; dancing stars flickered around in my vision. My grip loosened, but I didn’t let go.

  “Hank, stop.”

  “You think you’re a match for me?” he hissed, driving me against the counter and cabinets. Dishes clattered on the floor. He flung me as if I were a rag-doll. Eventually, my arms fell. Before I could say anything, Hank turned and punched me in the stomach. I staggered away, gasping for breath, and caught a flash of orange. Brooklyn stood in the doorway. She looked at Wes’s body on the floor and screamed, hurrying to his aid.

  “No… go… home…” I sputtered in between wheezes.

  “Wesley, wake up,” she sobbed, holding him by the shoulders. “We have to help him.”

  “Why are you in my house?” Hank flipped on her.

  Brooklyn gasped, slowly rising. “I’m sorry, but he needs help.” She pointed a trembling finger at Wes.

  “That’s not what I asked you, you fucking bitch.” He dodged for her.

  “Hank, don’t—” I grabbed the first thing in sight—a metal toaster. With all the force I could muster, I hurled it at Hank’s head. He took one shaky step forward and landed with a heavy thud in front of Brooklyn, his hand outstretched at her feet. She jerked away with another scream. “Brooklyn, I told you to go home.” I stooped over, struggling to catch my breath.

  “Why is this happening?” Her voice broke. “I can call the police. I’m gonna go get my phone.” She turned for the door.

  I hurriedly straightened to catch her. “No. No. Don’t call anyone.”

  “But this isn’t right. He could’ve killed Wesley.”

  I nodded, taking her hand. “Yes, I know. But Wesley’s tough. Don’t call the police, please.”

  “Why not?”

  “Cause he’s still my dad.” I drew in a sharp breath while rubbing my temples. “Look, Brook. You shouldn’t be here.” I pulled the door open. “Go home, okay?”

  She crossed her arms. “No. Not unless you come with me. Let’s go together before Hank wakes up. Please?” Her lip trembled.

  I shook my head. “I can’t. I’ll be fine, I promise.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead before gently ushering her out the door.

  “Eddie, please…” She reached for me, but I shut the door. Her palm slapped against the other side. “Eddie?”

  A lump swelled in my throat as I turned the lock.

  13

  Brooklyn

  Now

  With a hoarse groan, I slammed my algebra book closed. I couldn’t focus on a single word without picturing the Hawkins family. I knew the twins called Hank a monster, but I didn’t know just how true it was.

  April was going to kill me. I’d chewed and ruined my freshly manicured nails.

  Once again, Eddie hadn’t texted. I couldn’t stop telling myself I shouldn’t have left him. Or Wesley. We should’ve dragged him to my back seat and gotten him out of there.

  And gone where? Here? Dad would have thrown a fit if he found both Hawkins boys asleep in his house. There was that ratty cabin, but we couldn’t go back there. We’d made the promise never to return after Riley’s… accident. Besides, if our stalker was who we thought, the last we needed was him trailing us to the crime scene.

  I ran my wrecked nails through my hair. I couldn’t shake the rage and hostility in Hank’s face as he came after me. What the hell could drive someone to that point? I smelled the booze on Hank from a mile away. But it made sense. Hank didn’t allow visitors because he’s an abusive alcoholic.

  Gosh, the signs were all there, especially in Wesley. But we passed his beatings off as random fights like what’d happened at Mario’s party. Was it possible Hank beat him up after that, too?

  I didn’t realize I’d started pacing until the steady slap of my bare feet echoed in my ears. I chewed on my lip, my brain screaming at me. I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my ears.

  “Just calm down…” I murmured, steadying my breaths. My shoulders rose and fell. “That’s a girl. Now focus and study for the test.” I plopped back at the desk and flipped through the book. I wasn’t exactly a math genius, but algebra never gave me a hard time.

  Frustrated, I snapped my pencil. How could I comprehend those equations when my entire life was a fucking equation I couldn’t solve?

  I stared at the open pages, squinting at the water drops drying on the blurred words. When had I started crying?

  “That’s it.” I stood. I held off long enough. Even though I was home alone, I quietly tipped over to my underwear drawer and fumbled around for the pill bottle. My fingertips brushed it when a rapping at the window made me spin around. “Eddie.” I quickly shoved my drawer closed and hurried to help him inside. I hugged him. “Where’s Wes?”

  “Diego picked him up. He brought me here, too.”

  “Diego?” I pulled away and frowned. Why didn’t I hear a car? I slowly turned away. I had to be more careful. What if Dad came up and caught me? Immediately, my eyes flicked to the drawer to ensure it was closed.

  “You mean Diego knows about Hank?”

  He turned me to him. “I never told you about Hank or invited you over because it’s embarrassing. Our worlds are so, so different. I mean, look at this place.” He gazed around my room. “This bedroom alone is bigger than my house and lawn combined.”

  I stifled a laugh. “Now you’re exaggerating.”

  He smiled, too, cupping my chin. “You’re my idea of perfection.”

  “Eddie…” I sighed. “No one is perfect. Not even me…” Especially not with my secrets.

  Eddie turned a somersault in the pool. I sat on the edge, splashing my feet in the water, watching how serene he seemed, gliding freely beneath the surface. It was just like I envisioned while practicing Jeux d’eau—minus the ominous red cloud, of course. He was like a beautiful underwater creature, flowing, every limb as straight as an arrow, gliding and cutting through the water.

  After the day we’d had, it was nice to wind down on a peaceful night. The sky was indigo with bright stars, the air warm with a slight breeze, the early signs of autumn. It was perfect until JoJo showed up, barking annoyingly at Eddie and me. I knew officially then that Dad trained him.

  “Shoo,” I spat, waving JoJo away. He cocked his head at me and then trotted in the opposite direction. Stupid dog. I rolled my eyes, catching Eddie turning another flip, diving even deeper until I couldn’t see him anymore. I eased to the edge for a closer view. I made out Eddie’s form, a dark lump floating near the bottom. Had he lost consciousness?

  Instantly, I saw Wes crumpled in their kitchen. “Eddie?” I croaked, using my hands to push off into the pool. The sudden rush of cold matched the panic swelling in my chest. “Eddie, are you okay?” When he still didn’t come up, I took a dip under. He was crouched low, unmoving, his back to me. His arms floated lifelessly at his sides. Oh, no.

  I swam forward and took hold of him. He spun around and startled me. Realizing he did, he slipped around me and guided me to the surface, but I turned and shoved him off. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.” I panted.

  “I’m sorry. I was only practicing my breathing techniques.”

  “Breathing techniques, my ass. You weren’t even moving. I thought—” I uttered a low scream, shoving him again. Eddie laughed and splashed me. “It’s not funny.” I splashed him back, half smiling. He dodged away, gliding backward. I tilted my head, studying him. “How are you able to do that, though? Hold your breath so long.”

  “You really wanna know? Because of Hank. When Wes and I were younger, he held our heads underwater. Just shove our faces in like bathwater or dishwater. I don’t know. It’s like he thought about drowning us, but then would change his mind.” He shrugged. “Our lung capacities increased, and eventually, he got bored waiting for us to thrash for air.”

  I glanced away. “That’s horrible.”

  “Yeah. Well, on the flip side, Hank unknowingly helped my swimming abilities. Swimming is what’s gonna get me away from Haywood. And after I make it to the Olympics, and you’re in Julliard, we’ll go someplace warm for our break…” He eased closer, grinning. “Like Hawaii or some shit.”

  I heard him, yet my mind was elsewhere. “Can I ask you something?” He nodded. “Where’s your mom? Do you know where she went when she left?”

  His smile faded. “Two men in jumpsuits took her.”

  “Took her?” My eyes widened. “But I thought she left.”

  “Nah. I remember being at the window, staring out at the van they tossed her in. It was a hospital—AWA. I’ll never forget those letters.”

  I gasped. “The Angel Wing Asylum? But that’s a mental institution.”

  “Yep. That’s where my mom is.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was… ill.”

  “She wasn’t, not that I can remember, anyway. Hank accused her of every lie he could think of—crazy being one of them.” He shook his head. “I can still hear him screaming about her having an affair once. I didn’t know what that meant, but figured it must’ve been the worst crime ever committed for him to put her face into the wall over it.”

  I shifted, my gaze focusing on nothing. I wondered if Eddie still felt the same about cheating now that he knew better. Guilt washed over me. I still hadn’t told him about that kiss with Diego. Was that really cheating? I didn’t kiss him back or anything. But I liked it.

  “Wes and I plan to go visit her someday.” He cut into my thoughts. “But each time we think about it, Wes changes his mind. He hates her for leaving us with Hank. Even though Hank left her no choice, Wes is still bitter about it. She made us promise to take care of Hank, no matter what.”

  I scoffed. “She did? But why?”

  “Love? I don’t know. It beats me. That’s why I couldn’t let you call the cops tonight. Not like they’ll do anything, anyway. They respect Hank as if he’s still one of theirs.”

  “Eddie, no offense, but your mom has been out of the picture for too long. Maybe it’s time you dropped that promise and started considering what’s best for you. Hank could’ve killed Wesley tonight. And forgive me, but if that had been you or if it ever comes close to being you, I’m gonna tell my dad. He’d know who to call to help if the cops won’t.”

  He slowly grinned. “You’d seek a rescue team for me?”

  Nodding, I motioned for him to come closer. As he inched toward me, I splashed him again. He laughed and boxed me in, clutching the edge of the pool on either side of me. We were nose to nose. He gave me a quick peck on the mouth, but I took his face and pressed my lips to his longingly. Eddie kissed me back with passion and hoisted me up. My legs wrapped around his waist as we caressed each other.

 

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