Page 196 of Lovers Like Us
No light streams beneath thecrack.
Instinct overrides alarm, and I move quietly but urgently. I open theunlockeddoor and flick on the lights. No one is in this fuckingbathroom.
There are only two other doors. Left goes to Jane’s room. Right goes to Luna’s room. I tune out motives, thewhat ifsand all the shit that’d cause me to stumble or falter. I concentrate on onetask.
FindNate.
I open the left door. Flick on thelights.
A quick scan of theroom.
Empty.
I shut the door, turn to the right one. Luna’s room. My jaw hardens as I grab the brassknob.
Don’t be in here, youmotherfucker.
The knobjams.
It’slocked.
I listen for a half a second, no noise audible. I knock once, twice, and then feet patter. I lower myfist.
Don’t be inhere.
The door swings open, and Luna peeks out, a heart drawn on her cheek. Green marker stains her hands. “Hi,Farrow.”
“Anyone with you?” Iask.
Luna glances behind her. “No…should therebe?”
I have to look. “Can Isee?”
“Yeah…”
I push the door wider. Glow-in-the-dark stars and planets are glued to the ceiling, lava lamps casting colors and odd shapes on her black chalkboard walls. Purple beads hang across her four-poster bed like curtains, but I can see throughthem.
And no one else ishere.
Okay.
If he’s not on the second-floor, then I know where Nate is now. And it’s not good. My nose flares and eyesburn.
“What’s this about?” Luna wonders. “Are you trying to find Moffy? I thought he’s withyou.”
“He is. Stay in your room for me. Lock your door again.” I wait for her to move. She hesitates, and my brows arch. “Luna.” I check the staircase. Nomovement.
My body tells me not to overact. Don’t jump the gun. Don’t panic. Breathe and face this shit head-on.
“Should I call my brother?” Lunaasks.
“No,” I say. “I’m going to text him.” I already take out my phone and type a quick text. Luna nods and then shuts the door. I hear the lockclick.
Stay in my room. Lock the door.I send the message toMaximoff.
Pocketing my phone, I continue up the stairs to the third floor. Process of deduction: there’s only one other place the stairs leadto.
Maximoff’s atticbedroom.
