Page 71 of Switching Graves

That’s the most logical scenario to me. It’s unlikely that the university or town would allow something like this to still be floating around at all, let alone remain in plain sight. They had to have been placed there long ago and forgotten.

“Doubtful. If the guy is as obsessive as you say he is, there’s probably not a square inch of that office he hasn’t touched.”

I can’t disagree with her there.

“I hope, for my sake, that isn’t the case. Otherwise, he may already know they’re missing.” And if he does, then when will he begin to suspect that I’m the one who took them?

“I almost wish I could be there to see this guy.”

Throwing the book back onto the couch, I chuckle. “You’d hate him.”

Just like I do. I think. He’d definitely push Poppy’s buttons, though she may see him as a challenge to conquer more than the annoyance I believe he is.

“Oh, absolutely. But that would only make things more fun.”

The thought of her anywhere near him has a small bit of anger burning in my chest.

“Whenareyou coming back?” I ask, changing the subject. We haven’t discussed her plans for the holidays since I asked in the beginning of the semester. Her parents will expect her to come home to celebrate with them, I’m sure.

“No idea.”

“Who is running this travel expedition? Is there any plan in place?”

“No one is ‘running’ it,” she scoffs. “We’re all just trying to maximize our experience.”

“Well, your parents are going to catch onto the fact that you aren’t even in the same country if you don’t make any effort to see them.” My tone is sharper than I intend for it to sound, but I’m too annoyed with her to soften it.

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, Poppy. Of course, it matters.”

She pops her lips, and I can just imagine her lying back against her pillow, examining her nails as she says, “I truly don’t give a single shit about what they think.”

That has me sitting up straighter, my mouth widening in surprise.

“Okay . . . what happens when they fly here—because you know they’re overbearing enough to do that—and find me sitting in this dorm instead of you?”

“Then they find out the truth. So what?”

I rear my head back, scowling at my phone. She is truly unbelievable.

“So what? What we’re doing isillegal, Poppy. I don’t feel like you’re taking it seriously enough. You should plan to take a few days off your vacation to ensure neither of us ends up in jail or something.”

“It’s not a vacation,” she interjects.

“Poppy!” I shriek.

“Okay, okay, chill out. I’ll find a way to come home. I may need your help with a plane ticket.”

I furrow my brows. “What do you mean, you’ll find a way? Don’t you have any money left?”

“Well . . . I mean, it’s expensive to travel and?—”

“The point of you going to Costa Rica was specifically based on howinexpensiveit is,” I remind her. “Where did your money go?”

“What do you mean? It’s gone to all of us surviving.” She pauses, then adds, “We share everything here—it’s the rule.”

“Please don’t tell me you’ve blown thousands of dollars to foot the bill for a bunch of strangers to wander around South America . . . ”

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