Page 45 of Her Wicked Knights
"Dancing." Colton says easily. "And whether we're all going to take turns dancing with you the whole night."
Her eyes widen a little in disbelief and she opens her mouth to say something. She's saved by the bell chiming as the door opens, and two deputies walk in, headed right toward us.
"Hey, Rick. Devon." Marley smiles brightly at them as Colton tenses, and I wonder what sort of shit he's been up to if the deputies presence in the diner has him on edge. "What can I get you guys?"
But Rick and Devon don't take seats. They don't smile or even look at us, their gazes fixed on Marley, whose face falls with her confusion. "What's wrong?"
"Come around to this side of the counter," Rick suggests, tipping his head. Colton and I exchange a glance, and a divot appears between Marley's eyebrows as she considers the reason he's asking. But she's known Rick for years, so she doesn't question him, heading out from around the counter and coming to stand with her arms crossed by Colton's side.
"Maybe take a seat." Devon suggests, indicating the booth tucked into the furthest corner of the diner. Apparently, that sets off alarm bells for her, because I watch her chest rise and fall fast.
It sets off alarm bells for us, too. Colton and I both move at the same time— me to wrap an arm around her, and Colton to insert himself between Marley and the deputies. "What's this about?"
"Please," Devon says, his hands up to show Colton there's no need to get aggressive. "Just... let's all take a seat."
"I don't want to sit." Marley's voice is harsh, and when I wrap my arm around her tighter, I notice she's shaking a little. "Tell me what you're here for or let me get back to work. I've got to-"
Something about the way the deputies look at her tells me I need to get her to sit, but I can't seem to make myself move, either. I'm frozen, stuck waiting on them to say whatever it is they came here for.
"It's your parents..." Rick says. It's all he gets out before he breaks off into a sob that's so unexpected I feel like someone just punched me in the gut.
"No."
Marley's voice is small; it's barely a whisper.
There's a moment of silence before she splinters it. Her voice is louder this time, firm but shrill. "No."
"I'm so sorry, Marley." Devon says quietly. "They didn't make it."
She collapses in my arms like a house of cards in a thunderstorm.
"No." That's Colton this time, shaking his head as I wrap my arm around her waist instead, keeping her upright as I stare at the deputy, waiting for more.
They didn't make it.
What didn't they make it through?
They were going on a date. It's not like they went travelling abroad and never reached their destination. I think Marley said they were going to see a movie or something. How do you not make it to the movies?
"I've already been in touch with Axel. He's on his way to pick up Hadley. We didn't want her driving right now."
The sob that comes from the girl in my arms threatens to shatter the entire fucking world. I hear Hector somewherebehind the counter, wondering what's going on, but I don't have it in me to explain. I can't think. I can't breathe. All I can do is hold Marley tighter, pull her with me into the booth the deputies tried to get us to sit in.
I said earlier that she collapsed like a house of cards. But in hindsight, that was wrong. What she did before was nothing more than crumbling, her defenses caving in.
Now, in the booth with me holding onto her, she collapses.
And she threatens to take me to the ground with her.
24
Tripp
Axelleftsofasthe forgot his keys, which was good, because it gave my father a chance to grab his cell phone and kiss mom goodbye before following him. I would think having my dad with them will make for an even more awkward car ride back here, but I'm glad Axel isn't alone right now. Unfortunately, that means I'm the only one who can be here for mom, and as much as I love her, I don't think I'm qualified to try and help her through the fact that her best friend is dead. I've tried figuring out what to say, trying to imagine what I'd want anybody to say if it was Rev or Marley, but that just felt like it put razor blades in my throat.
I drove her home in silence once I managed to get her to stop crying enough to get her out of Mrs. Windham-Hayes’ party. She stayed silent, and I had nothing to say so I didn't even try to speak. But when we pulled into our driveway, in the half-second where the headlights lit up on the Lavignes' house with the front porch light on, she lost it. I tried to convince her to get a shower, I made her tea that she hasn't touched, I googled what to do when someone is in shock once she stopped cryingand started acting like she didn't hear me. Nothing has helped, so when Colton tells me he's on his way, I'm grateful for the reinforcements.
He didn't tell me he was on his way with Rev and Marley.
