Page 16 of Where the Darkness Goes

“It’s fine,” I tell her. She really does look upset, and I hate that. “Honestly. I’m just ready to hang out with my friends. It’s not a big deal.”

She eyes the door, and I know she’s thinking she needs to get back to the house and help Dad. Probably before he drives away in the golf cart back to the main house, leaving her to have to walk.

“You can go, if you want. We’ll be fine.”

She breathes a quick sigh. “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying.” Clasping her hands together, she bends at the knee like I’ve just given her the greatest gift.

“Positive. Go ahead.”

“It’s just…you know how your father is. Those boys will be knee deep in ice cream if I don’t catch up to them now. And it’s nearly their bedtime.” She winces. “You probably don’t want to hang out with your mom anyway, do you?”

“It’s cool,” I say. “Promise.”

She hesitates for just a second longer before brushing a hand over my cheek and pointing a warning finger at Will. “Keep him out of trouble.”

He salutes her. “Yes, ma’am.”

With a nod, she hurries out of the room in a rush to catch up with my dad, her heels clicking across the wood floor.

“God, your mom’s hot,” Will says, watching her leave. “No wonder you have so many siblings.”

“Gross. Shut up.” I shove him and turn away, just in time to see my mom zip out the door. Before it shuts, Tessa slips inside.

I suck in a breath involuntarily, almost choking on it as I wait to see if she has brought anyone with her.

“What isshedoing here?” Will asks, stepping up next to me.

“I invited her.” It’s hard to see her through the crowd of people who keep walking in front of me, so I shuffle side to side in place, trying not to make it obvious what I’m doing with occasional glances in random directions.

When she finally closes the door behind her, and I realize she’s alone, something unclenches in me that I’m pretty sure has been clenched for a while.

Will steps into my line of vision, waving a hand back and forth. “Um, hello? Earth to Garrett. I asked why you invited my sister to your party without telling me?”

I blink, suddenly very aware of my hands and the placement of my tongue in my mouth. It’s like I want to crawl out of my skin, like nothing fits where it belongs anymore. “Sorry, um. I…what?”

He sighs, looking back over his shoulder. “Jesus, she saw us.” He rolls his eyes. “Now she’s going to want to hang out with us, and I’m going to have to play big bro all night. This was supposed to be our night.” He raises his brows, darting his gaze toward the group of girls chatting away in a corner. “Cassidy is supposed to be here.”

“She’ll be fine, dude. Chill. You can have your fun. I’ll handle Tessa.”

“That’s not fair. It’s your birthday.” He’s not mad, I know. Will and Tessa are closer than any siblings I know. But he’s right. I didn’t entirely think this invitation through. She’d just looked so sad in that room when I came back to check on her, and… I can’t explain it.

She makes me act like an idiot most of the time.

“I don’t mind.”

“Whatever, fine, but remember you offered.” He passes me a fake baton, patting my chest. “She’s yours tonight. You hear me? This is on you. I’m not playing babysitter.”

At least I think that’s what he said. Something like that. I’m not sure, because my entire brain short-circuited over him saying Tessa was mine. I know what he means. My responsibility. But even at that… Something warm hits me from the inside, like I’ve drank hot soup.

This is wrong.

She shouldn’t be here.

She shouldn’t look like…that.

For the first time, I take in the way she’s dressed. No different than any other girl here, I guess. Jeans and a shirt that shows off a little bit of skin on her stomach. A little more makeup than I’m used to on her. Her dark brown hair is different. Curly and sort of…big? Like it gets when it rains, except not like that at all.

She looks pretty, I realize, with an agonizing sense of dread.

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