Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 158635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 793(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 793(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
“No clue.” Anni’s brows crease. “He certainly doesn’t show up at the mansion. Only the four you just mentioned live together.”
Could it be Orange Mask?
“This is so interesting.” Ava has those heart eyes again. “I wonder who this mystery person is. Maybe we can investigate this.”
“Absolutely not,” I say in a forceful tone.
“Come on, please, Cecy. We can find out a lot of secret stuff. It’ll be so fun.”
“You won’t find it fun if your life is at risk or if one of these mystery people catches you.”
“Oh, please. Your fantasy is something like that.”
I freeze.
Heat rises over my neck and cheeks and I stare at Ava as if she’s grown three additional heads and is judging me with each one of them.
“T-that’s not true! My fantasy is a nice, normal man. That’s obviously a rare currency in this day and age.”
“That’s a no, no. When we were drunk at Remi’s last birthday party, you said something different, and I believe drunk Cecy. She’s the real version of you.”
I’m going to kill drunk me.
And Ava, too. How could she bring that up?
Just as I’m about to figure out the best murder plan, the door opens and Glyndon, my and Ava’s childhood friend and Lan’s sister, comes inside.
She’s the most petite of the three of us—but not more than Anni—has long honey-colored hair, where the brown and blonde overlap in a beautiful balayage, and loves wearing shorts, even during the spring.
In theory, since Glyn and I are more introverted, we should be the closest, but when we’re in each other’s company, we actually prefer silence more than anything.
Sometimes, when she’s stuck in her own head, she reminds me of Landon, but the similarities stop there. She’s too sweet to ever be compared to Lan and his antagonizing nature.
She throws her bag down on the way inside and joins us. I stand to pick it up, then hang it in place instead of getting caught up in the subject at hand.
But as soon as I sit back down and grab my cup of tea, Ava barges into our childhood friend’s personal space. “Glyn! Back me up on this.”
“What are we discussing?”
“Fantasies,” Annika supplies. “Cecily said her fantasy is finding a nice, normal man since that’s so rare nowadays.”
“It is.” I let the lukewarm tea soothe my throat. “Sorry, I’m lame.”
“You’re lying.” Ava crosses her arms over her fuzzy pajamas. “A year ago, you said your fantasy was to be ambushed in a dark place and taken against your will.”
It’s like someone drenches me with cold water.
My hand shakes and droplets of tea splash on my skin.
I can feel that out-of-body sensation creeping in and stealing my breath.
Just when I think I’ll stumble into nothingness, Glyn slides to my side, holds me by the shoulder, and glares at Ava. “We agreed to not talk about that again.”
“Don’t act high and mighty. You said something similar, too. What was it? Oh, you want to fight it and be forced to take it, even when you say no. I can’t be the only one who remembers that.”
Glyn snuggles into my side and rubs my arm like the sweet creature she is. Like me, she’s too reserved to ever express herself.
In hindsight, telling Ava anything, even during a drunk moment, was a grave mistake.
She’s shit at keeping secrets, and I know she doesn’t mean any harm and is only trying to make Anni feel at home with us, but still.
Even if Anni wasn’t here, I’d rather we not speak of that subject ever again.
That was a weak moment.
One that I’m thinking of acting on, but still.
Their words swirl around me, something about Glyn reprimanding Ava, talk of Anni’s fantasy. But I’m barely hearing anything.
It’s an uncomfortable silence, one where I’m in a world of my own making that I can’t escape.
Soon after, Ava and Anni plot to party, the latter being convinced by Ava that her brother wouldn’t do anything to her and we’ll protect her.
An hour later, we’re in the Heathens’ mansion.
No shit.
Annika used her connections with the guards so they’d allow us inside and we’ve been huddled in the corner for the past ten minutes.
The three girls are all in pretty dresses, including Glyn, who was forced into a tight red one by the two fashion divas, who then painted her face with matching makeup.
I’m the only one in my usual jeans and T-shirt that says Sorry for the bitch face. Didn’t want to be here. They did try to dress me up, but that wasn’t happening in this lifetime.
To say I don’t want to be here would be an understatement. My skin has been crawling ever since we drove through the huge gothic-like gate.
Memories from last night are still fresh, beating beneath my skin with the persistence of an open wound.
Still, I couldn’t just let these three go on their own. Ava would certainly get into trouble and drag them along. Glyn wouldn’t stand a chance and Anni’s courage has been deflating ever since we actually got here.