Page 27 of Just Dare Me
“They tortured you?”
“No.”
“They chained you up?” I check his neck for bite marks. “No! Jay, did they—”
“No, no, nothing like that. They’re on our side.”
“Wait, are you saying…you stayed with them? They weren’t keeping you there?”
“Yes and no.”
“They compelled you!”
“No, would you listen to me? Think about it. Everybody thought East Side had taken me, and East Side was happy to let you think that, because then you would go after them.”
“Theywantus to go after them?”
“Yes, because then they could capture you.”
“Me?”
“Keep going. Connect the dots. If they get you, then…”
“Thenyouwould go after them,” I finish. “And you’re who they really want.”
“Right. The only way they can draw me out into the open is with you. They’ve beenlettingyou find them. Setting the trap. That’s why we’ve been scooping your raids. Protecting you.”
“Protecting me? Jay, all you had to do wascome home.”
“It’s not that simple.” He searches my eyes, but for what? Understanding? Permission? I don’t know.
“What, Jay?” I ask with fear suddenly creeping up my throat. “Wait.”
“Shayne.”
“Wait.” I grab him by the front of his hoodie and pull him close, determined to never let go. “You’re not saying…”
“I had to see you. I took the risk. I’m here. Now you know I’m safe, but…”
“No, Jay. No buts.”
“But I can’t stay.”
“No!” I wrap myself around him, my face pressed into his chest. “No. Let’s just…let’s go! You and me, we’ll go now, tonight. We’ll go so far away, and nobody will ever find us. I don’t care where.”
“Shayne,” he wheezes. “I can’t breathe.”
“Good! Now you know how I’ve felt all this time, and I’m not doing it anymore! I’m not!” I pound on his shoulders with my fists, in total tantrum mode, my vision blurred with hot tears. “Ihatethis! I hate it, Jay. I didn’t used to be this way, before you. I didn’t need anybody. I needed things, but not people. Not you.” I pound him on the chest. “If you go away again, I wish I never met you!” I try to pound him again, but he grabs my fists. I jerk away. “Why’d you even come back at all, then? Just to leave again—that’s worse than not knowing. Why?”
“Because!” he shouts back, “I said that I wanted to marry you, and I meant it. Didn’t we say opening day? So here I am!”
A haughty laugh escapes like a croak from my throat. “Marry you! Forget it!” But then, in the time it takes me to blink once, my brain catches up to my mouth, shutting it. I crawl back on top of Jay, straddling him. “Really? Marry me?”
“Isn’t that what we said?”
“Yes, we said that.”
“And isn’t this opening day of baseball season?”
