Page 21 of Where the Darkness Goes

I stop short, jumping in front of him to stop us from walking any farther. “What?No!”

“Yes.” He’s unyielding, his jaw tight.

“Garrett.”

“Tessa.” My name is soft and warm on his tongue. His eyes flick down to my lips and across my face before they slowly rise to meet mine again.

“Garrett.”

“Tessa.” He’s unfazed and, apparently, amused.

“Why?” I whine. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

“Oh, that would be a mistake because Brendandefinitelywould’ve told us.”

Warmth hits my cheeks again.

“We’re coming with you to make sure you’re okay,” he adds. “I’m not negotiating.”

“I’ll be okay. I’ll be better than okay, in fact,” I tell him. “Totally fine. He’s just coming by to hang out, and Britney will be there the whole time. It’s super casual. And, like we said, he’s your friend. More than that, he’s Will’s friend. Do you think Will will let him continue to live if he does anything to hurt me?” The attempt at a joke falls flat.

He looks like he’s either going to yell at me or throw up. Either reaction confuses me so badly. “We’re coming, Tessa. You two don’t need to be in a cabin with Brendan alone, whether he’s our friend or not.”

“Why? I’m alone with you all the time. What’s the difference?” I demand, stepping closer to him in what’s meant to be a challenge, but he catches my waist, and I feel more off balance than I ever have.

His eyes flick down toward my lips and linger there.Do I have food in my teeth? Jesus, why does he keep looking at my mouth?

“Guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” he mutters, barely a whisper. Then he releases me, and he’s gone.

When the weekend comes and Britney’s parents drop us off at the cabin with enough food to last two weeks rather than two days, we unpack everything and rush to get ready before the guys get there.

“I can’t believe we’re having arealparty,” she squeals as she pulls a soft pink cami on with her black skirt. She’s only three months older than I am, but she looks closer to threeyearsolder with her thick, black eyeliner and long, tan legs. Being best friends with the pretty, popular girl means I’m usually the third wheel when we’re together. Guys we meet gravitate toward her first. Guys I like ask me if I could get her to go out with them. It’s just the reality, and it’s something I’ve become used to, but this time, for once, it’s me the guy is coming for. I’ll be the one with someone to kiss tonight.

At that thought, my stomach balls up in a knot, and I feel like I’m going to vomit. I look over the clothes I brought to choose from. Everything in my pile that’s name brand is a hand-me-down from Britney, and most of the rest came from clothing donations to the church.

It’s not a good feeling to walk through town and know that anyone you pass might’ve been the original owner of what you’re wearing. I’m far from the only kid in school wearing hand-me-downs, but it gets to me sometimes.

I know Mom does the best she can on her own, but just once I’d like to be able to afford what Britney can.

“Oh. Can I borrow this?” Britney asks, snatching a long necklace with a key attached to it.

I nod, not really paying attention. “Sure. What should I wear?”

She muses over my options, tapping her finger to her chin. “Oh, how about this?” She grabs a navy strapless top and some of her blue jean shorts.

“I can’t wear your shorts. You’re smaller than I am.”

“Please.” She scoffs, shoving them toward me. “You want them to be a little too small. Trust me, you’re going to look so hot, Brendan won’t know what hit him.”

“I don’t know. My brother is going to be here,” I remind her hesitantly.

“And Garrett.” She wiggles her butt. “Why do you think I picked this skirt?”

“Disgusting,” I spit out. It’s exactly how I feel, but not because I find Garrett disgusting in the slightest. It’s just that the idea of Britney and Garrett together makes me want to die. “Since when do you like either of them?”

“I didn’t say I liked them, but they’re hot.” She shrugs at my dramatic grimace. “Sorry, but theyare. And Tyra says flirting with cute boys never hurt anyone.”

She’s wrong because I feel like I’ve been split down the center with a scalpel. “Garrett doesn’t really date anyone. Or flirt, for that matter. You can have Will.”

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