Page 51 of Where the Darkness Goes

With the leftovers from dinner put away in the refrigerator and the pizza box thrown away, I tell him, “Thanks again for going with me today. I don’t remember if I said that, but I appreciate everything.” I take a step backward, feeling awkward when he just nods again, still not saying a word. “And now I’ll get out of your hair and give you a break.”

His brows draw down, confused. “You were never a bother, Tessa. Don’t act like spending time with you is a chore.”

“Still. I know you probably had other things planned before I came into town with my flat tire. I’m just… I just want to say thank you for helping me, like you always do.”

He twists his lips into a wry grin. “What are friends for?”

“Right.” I take a hesitant breath, then step backward and away from him, heading for my room to get ready. Inside, I turn to my closet, sorting through the clothes I brought with me.

“You’re really going to go with him?” Garrett’s voice comes from just outside the door. When I turn, it’s mostly open, but he hasn’t entered.

“I think so, yeah.” I hesitate. “He’s nice.”

“Sure. He’s nice.” He’s definitely irritated, but he has no right to be. We aren’t together. That was his decision. “And you like him?”

“I don’t really know him. Just from the few times he was around with you guys.”

“I mean, is this really the best time to be going out with anyone? With so much else going on?”

I stop going through my clothes, turning to face him with my hands on my hips. “Why don’t you just say what you really want to say, Garrett? Do you not want me to go with him?”

He runs a hand over the top of his head. “I didn’t say that.”

“Do you know something about him I should know? Is he a bad guy?”

“No.” He scowls. “No. He’s…whatever. I’m just trying to make sure you’re ready for this. You just got back into town. You don’t owe him a date because he was nice to you.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“And you still want to go?”

Now, stubbornness gets the best of me. “Yeah, I do. Unless you can think of a reason I shouldn’t.”

His hands go up, and he takes a step back. “Nothing important, no. Have fun with yourfavoritecookies.”

With that, he disappears into the hall, and I hear his bedroom door shut seconds later, leaving me alone with my spiraling thoughts.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

GARRETT — PRESENT DAY

Fuck this.

It’s ten o’clock at night.Where the fuck is she?I feel like a worried parent, pacing in front of the door, watching for headlights on the road. She should be here by now.

Not that she had a curfew. She’s a grown adult, and I can’t control her. Maybe she won’t come home at all. Maybe she’ll stay over at his place.

And that would be fine.

Cool liquid pours over my hand, and I look down to see that I’ve crushed the cup I’m drinking out of. It’s one of those flimsy silicone ones Will brought home from a trip, convinced it’s going to save the world by eliminating plastic or something.

I curse and shake the liquid from my hand, storming into the kitchen to get a towel and soap to clean the mess from my hand and the floor.

The bag of cookies from Overflow is sitting on the table, and I consider trashing it. How pathetic am I, really? Stupid, fucking Mark Summers and his pretty-boy smile. Who cares if she doesn’t like the cookies he bought her? Not my problem. Why didn’t she correct him? Everyone knows she hates Joanie’scookies. She always said they were too dry. I mean, she’s wrong, but whatever.

And why the fuck do I care?

Tessa Becker is not my responsibility. She’s not even my date.

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