me and walk away. Then tell the police that my security turned against me. My stepmother is holding me against my will.”
There was no “stepmother” here! What was he talking about? His eyes slid back to his security, and she put two and two together. He must’ve figured out what they were planning and had played cat and mouse with them all night. But how long had Janson known that something wasn’t right? Her gaze went back to him, reading the profound intelligence in his eyes, the depth of his expression that she’d been drawn to, and her breath hitched. This kiss was nothing. She’d never meant anything to him. If those stupid beefheads weren’t standing behind him, she’d tear away from him now.
“How could you?” she breathed. He nodded encouragingly, like it was all part of a script, but it wasn’t. He’d torn her heart out. He had no idea how much courage she’d had to muster to give him a chance, how she’d sacrificed every fear and tattered piece of pride to play this game with him. She’d thought he was special. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. “I never want to see you again.”
“Okay, good,” he whispered. Then mouthed, “Do it.”
This wasn’t pretend for her! But... he was so oblivious, this stupid guy. How long had he been playing make-believe with her heart so she could go to the police? He made his escape way harder than it had to be. Of course she’d never want Janson to be hurt, but why this way? They’d been alone at the ghost tour building—he could’ve told her without hurting her like this. She raised her hand to slap him and paused. She had never hit anyone. She wasn’t about to now. Her hand curled, and she shoved him back from her and marched away.
Who was she going to? Sheriff Price. He’d know what to do. Scooby was downstairs. He could call his father. She ran her hands down her face, feeling the tears against her skin, scarcely able to believe what a fool she’d been as she took the steps two at a time. Her gut had warned her that something between her and Janson couldn’t be true. Why hadn’t she listened? Because she was a romantic, that was why. It was time to realize that the world wasn’t some magical place where Prince Charming appeared out of nowhere to sweep her off her feet. Miracles only happened to other people. Love just wasn’t for her.
She reached the ground floor, trying to search out Scooby. Instead she saw her mother at the far table with the mayor. Renee was finally going to be vindicated for insisting Mollie use her first name. “Mother Renee,” she shouted across the crowd.
Her mother immediately swung around. A brawny hand dragged Mollie into the crowd. She twisted around to see Vin leering at her. “Hey, how about I help you instead?” he growled.
Mollie opened her mouth to scream. “Oh no, no,” he said. He pulled his jacket back to flash his gun. He wouldn’t use it on the crowd, would he? Shawnii bustled around the nearest table. Ashlynn shouted over at her brother, Scooby. Viola shoved Roy back with her elbow. Everything felt dreamlike as Mollie watched the faces of everyone she loved walk past her—even Henry Wood had come over from Highbury Independent Living, bringing Charlize’s mother as his date.
“Honey, what is it?” Mollie’s mother took her by the arm.
She choked on her words and held up her mother’s jacket. “I have this.”
Mother Renee’s eyes crinkled up at the sides. “Keep it with you. I don’t want it.” She searched the crowd, likely looking for Janson. “Why are you here? How did the ghost tour go?
Mollie wasn’t sure yet. Would she survive this night? That player had just made her life very complicated. She gulped, not sure how to work this. If she acted suspicious, then her mother would never let her go. But disappearing without a clue would mean no one might ever find her again. She licked her lips. “I have a lot to fill you in on. Talk to you tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, I’ll call you. I’m on a date.” Her mother squealed happily and backed up through the partygoers with a happy smile and a wave. “Yes, I know, I know, it was supposed to be business, but Mr. Tweed is pretty cute.”
The crowd swallowed Mother Renee. Vin shuffled closer to Mollie. “You made the right choice.”
“Look,” Mollie