“I have a better idea,” he tells me, gaze sliding over to the door to the classroom. “On Tuesdays, I help with office work for extra credit. Why don’t I see if I can’t find this fucker’s address, and we check out his house?”
“What the hell would I do without you?” I ask. It isn’t meant to be a rhetorical question, but Chasm gives me a slight smile, reaches out to ruffle my hair, and takes off down the hall without me.
I still don’t know what, exactly, it was that he said to Parrish that day.
But I have my guesses.
Whitehall Prep is a different place now than it was before Parrish went missing.
As I walk down the halls after school with my book bag slung over one shoulder, I can feel the other students’ eyes on me. Watching. Hunting. Waiting for drama.
“I’ve got it,” Chasm says, catching up to me just before I slip out the doors at the end of the hall. He pushes that lightning-bolt colored hair back from his forehead. “Mr. Volli’s address. Should we check it out?”
“I’m meeting with my sister today,” I tell him, already regretting agreeing to this. Of course I want to see Maxine, but it feels like we’re on a countdown here. Sure, Parrish’s kidnapper—I’m having a really hard time thinking of the guy as ‘dad’—told me there was no deadline other than Parrish’s personal strength. But that fourteen-day thing is killing me. All of the Slayer’s previous victims were killed somewhere around the two-week mark. What if he’s lying to me and Parrish only has five days left?
Besides that, the awful marks on Parrish’s chest haunt my dreams. He must be in so much pain …
I bite my lip, realize I’m imitating Maxx yet again, and huff out a frustrated sigh.
He isn’t quite the saint I thought he was. Somehow, that’s intriguing to me. Somehow, that makes me hate myself just a little bit more for realizing that. I guess I like assholes? And unavailable people. That’s my kink, apparently.
“Ah,” Chasm says, tucking his hands into the pockets of his black blazer. It kills me that the school uniform matches my hair with the lime-green stripes in the plaid of the skirt and the pattern on the tie. In the merch shop, there’s even a whole line of lime-green joggers, sports bras, and sneakers. “I’m guessing Maxx is giving you a ride?”
“You’d be guessing right,” I admit, trying not to dread this excursion. Maxine is going to have a lot of questions, questions that I can’t answer. And X … well, I’d sort of like to avoid the guy as much as I can. He’s too perceptive, too focused. Eventually, he’s going to figure it out and I’ll have a wildcard on my hands.
“Consider bringing him into the loop.” Chasm reaches out and opens the doors for me, holding out a hand to usher me through. I slip outside and he follows after. “He isn’t going to let this go, and it might do more harm than good if he figures it out on his own.”
“I’ll think about it,” I promise, giving Kimber a look. She’s sitting on the ground next to the exterior wall of the school, scrolling mindlessly on her phone. She looks a bit like a drowned kitten. “Do you think you could give her a ride?” I ask, looking back at Chas.
While I’m thinking about it, I slide my Tess-phone from my pocket and send her a quick text about the search party—and also about Chasm taking Kimber home. She might not like that, but I keep my fingers crossed.
Maxx let me know you’d be with him but thank you for keeping me informed. I appreciate that. If your plans change at all, please tell me right away. Open communication is vital. Chasm can drop Kimber off, that’s fine, but he needs to go home after.
Right. Because of the whole condom debacle.
I sigh as Chas reads the text over my shoulder, hoping he doesn’t get his feelings hurt by Tess’ curtness. If he does, he makes no mention of it.
“Yeah, I’ll take care of her.” He licks his lower lip, like he might be gearing up to add something else to the conversation. There’s a tension between us that wasn’t there before. It’s the sort of tension that comes with realizing you’re attracted to someone. Not just physically either. I’m attracted to everything about Chasm. His love for Parrish, his quick wit, his intelligence, his surprisingly generous nature. None of which would be a problem if I hadn’t just slept with his best friend, if I wasn’t in love with his best friend. And, also, if his best friend wasn’t missing, tied up by a famous serial killer who also claims to be my bio dad. “Stay safe, Little Sister.” Chasm reaches out and grabs my tie, yanking me a step closer to him, until our mouths are nearly touching.
