Page 365 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Have pleasant dreams.

Tomorrow is a new day.

This time, when I look ahead, I don’t see darkness. Maybe it’s the tranquilizers singing through my veins, but there’s some kind of numb hope seeping into me as Briar opens the passenger door.

I guess I can wait to go to sleep, because I know this time, Mom’s promise will come true. Tomorrow, when I wake, itwillbe a bright new day.

I peek at Briar through my lashes as he turns the ignition and his Mustang rumbles into life.

How do I know? Because Briar will be there.

Epilogue

Indi

I’ve been zoning out to theclop-clopof our horses’s hooves. When Briar touches my arm, I gasp and wrench myself away.

We stare at each other before he breaks into a wide smile. “I’m gonna have to ask for my money back,” he says.

I frown at him.

“They said, and I quote, a ‘relaxing, romantic horseback trail.’”

I let out a rueful chuckle and shrug at him, facing forward again. “I love it.”

“You do?”

“It’s perfect, Briar.” I glance at him, looking away before our eyes can meet. “Although I still don’t know how many palms you had to grease to pull this off.”

“What, school?” He snorts. “We’ve both got B-averages. We’ve both just gone through a traumatic?—”

He cuts off, and when he speaks again, there’s no mirth left in his words. “You needed a break.”

“So did you.”

“Yeah, I’m selfish like that, my little virgin.”

I snort this time, and shake my head. “Never grows old, does it?”

He leans over and pokes a finger in my side, making me twist over in my saddle and my horse take a side step as if she thinks she’s next.

“Stop it,” I snap, scowling at him.

“Only if you promise not to be upset.”

My scowl turns into a frown. “Why would I be?—?”

His expression turns serious. “Because I lied to you.”

Something wriggles around in my guts, and I wonder briefly if the maggots are back. But I shove that thought away before it can latch on.

“About what?” I say, trying to keep my voice airy.

“I don’t like you, Indi.”

Luckily, my mare is well trained. Even when I stiffen, she just carries on plodding down the forest path at the same pace as before. I, however, almost don’t duck in time to avoid being swept away by a low-hanging branch.

“Um…okay,” I say, forcing a swallow. “And you had to tell me this during a romantic horse ride through the forest?”

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