Page 98 of Female Fantasy
Remember what he said last week, a lifetime ago.
You could be kidnapped by an ax murderer.
He has no idea.
Then I can’t help it.
A giggle escapes.
Then a larger sound. A snicker.
“Are you actually laughing right now?” he asks in disbelief. “Joon. My calls have been going straight to voicemail fordays. I haven’t been able to reach Nico, either. I didn’t know if you’d even gotten to New York. Ollie had to talk me down from contacting the National Guard. Seriously, I was seconds away from heading to the city myself and checking all the major hospitals—”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
I picture the way he’s probably cocking his head before I hear his confusion.
“Thank you?I chew you out for going AWOL and youthank me? Did you hit your head or something?”
“Thank you for caring,” I clarify. “You always look out for me, Tey. I know I give you a hard time about it, but I just want you to know I’m grateful. And that it doesn’t go unnoticed. In case, you know…I don’t say it enough.”
For someone who is a true romantic, I don’t do the whole earnest thing with my brother very often. He must notice, because when he asks his next question, his voice comes out kind of shaky and unsettled.
“Joonie, what’s wrong?”
“Well, let’s see…”
My phone dings, notifying me that my battery just hit 10 percent. I groan.
“Sorry, my phone’s dying. Well, notmyphone. My friend Roy’s phone. He’s one of my fanfic friends. I met them all in person for the first time. Here in New York. It was crazy. Nico and I had to crash with one of them—their name’s Angel—because we didn’t have any money, because a psychic stole our wallets after giving me this insane prophecy on the train. We had to take the train because the truck was totaled. Your truck. I’m so sorry about that. I’ll figure out a way to pay for the repairs, I swear. I’m not sure where it is right now because we abandoned it in order to hitchhike with these two freaks—like, literal con artists—who ended up being bounty hunters for the Mob. They tried to kidnap us because Nico made some bad bets in an attempt to save the restaurant, which I know is in trouble. But I ended up getting us out of it. They took our phones, which is why you haven’t been able to reach us. Nicowanted to turn around and go home, but I refused. I had to get to the city and find Ryan Mare. He’s the real-life Ryke, from my books—like, the man the character was based on. There was never any writing workshop, by the way. I was always going to the city because I thought maybe Ryan was my soul mate, but then I met him, and even though he was exactly like I imagined, he just didn’t make me feel…anything. There was no spark. Not like the one I feel with Nico. Oh yeah, that reminds me—I totally banged your best friend. Just, you know, FYI.”
There’s silence on the other end of the line for a whole minute.
“Tey? Did we get disconnected or—”
“What the actual fuck.”
I gulp. “Which part?”
“Um, all of it? Are you okay, Joon? Are you safe?”
“Yeah, I’m safe.”
“You don’t have PTSD or anything?”
“The motel we slept in was a hellscape, but no.”
“God forbid they don’t have turndown service.”
“Right?! Or chocolates on the pillows.”
I hear a long exhale, followed by a groan. “I have no idea where to start,” he says. “You gotkidnapped? Andmugged?”
“Yeah.” I blow out a sharp breath. “But I know how to escape from restraints, plus a little hand-to-hand combat. Actually, I have my black belt. Also, I speak, like, five languages. Including Mandarin. And my Salty Girls have my back. So, yeah. I figured it out.”
He whistles. “Even though that is thoroughlyterrifying—and make no mistake, wewillbe filing a police report when you’re back—I can’t say I’m not impressed. How the hell did you become so resourceful?”
“Easy.” I shrug. “By reading romance.”
