Page 85 of Repairing the Wreckage

A hot poker of fear jabs me in the ribs. “He was that bad?”

Remy nods. “He’s been banged up at The Castle plenty of times. But this…this was like the ref was looking the other way or something.” He shrugs. “That’s why I asked him to move in.”

Great, now I can’t even be mad at my brother. “Then why the hell was he at Zips last night?”

“To see you.”

Instead, he saw me with Torch. “Oh.” I frown. “You should’ve warned me.”

“I didn’t know Torch was going with you.”

“He’s always at Zips.” I can’t keep the exasperation out of my voice. “We planned our costumes together.”

“Yeah. I’m sure his wolf mask from the Dollar Tree took lots of planning.” Remy’s voice drips with sarcasm.

“Because your Ghostface mask was so original?”

One corner of his mouth lifts. “It served its purpose.”

“Ugh. I don’t even want to know.”

He chuckles. “You want to go for a run with me?”

“The only way I’m running is if I’m being chased by a herd of flesh-eating zombies.”

“By then it’ll be too late,” he teases. “You won’t have the stamina to outrun the zombies.”

Despite myself, I end up laughing.

* * *

Guilt and a few other complicated emotions snake their way through my chest as I drive over to Hayden’s house. Maybe I’ll stay with her tonight and go back to campus early tomorrow. Then I can avoid Griff and my brother.

Hayden’s driveway is packed. I must not be the only one who couldn’t sleep. Or some of the girls are leaving early for their longer drives back to campus.

Hayden answers the door in bright-pink, satin pajamas with her hair still coiled around one long, pink silk-covered foam roller draped over the top of her head like a crown.

“Morning, Goldilocks.” I tap one end of the long curler. “This is a cute look.”

“Ugh, Jenn said I can’t take it out yet. Come in.” She stands back and holds the door wide. “It’s freezing out.”

I hustle inside and close the door behind me.

“We’re in the kitchen. Kyla’s making blueberry pancakes,” Hayden calls over her shoulder.

“Ooo, I got here just in time.” A sweet, sharp scent stings my nose as we close in on the kitchen. Is Kyla making pancakes or burning them?

“Hey, Mollllleee,” Darcy sings as soon as I step into the kitchen. “Where’d you disappear to last night?”

“We saw you talking to Griff,” Kyla says without looking away from the stove. “How’d that go?”

“No comment.” I pull one of the stools at the long counter out and pop my butt on it.

Hayden squeezes onto the stool next to me. “Come on,” she pleads. “You wouldn’t talk about him all summer. Did you unleash your fury on him? Turn him to actual stone with the power of your eyes?”

“I wish.” I heave out a deep, annoyed breath.

“Was he mad you were there with Torch?” Kyla asks with wide eyes and a devious smile. “That was seriously the best revenge.”

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