“And they will!” says Sara. “But in the right way. Joe, we can’t do this. If you stop and think for a second, you’ll realize you aren’t thinking clearly. There has to be another way.”
Dad nods. “Enough. I propose a vote. Everyone in favor of my plan…”
Dad raises his hand.
Luke does, too.
As does Vince.
Luckily for me, everyone else keeps their hand down. Dad sees that I’ve kept my hand down, though. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get the look he gives me out of my head.
“And now,” says Dad, “everyone who thinks we shouldn’t…”
Everyone else raises their hands. Once again, I keep my hands on the table. He already knows my vote. There’s no point rubbing it in.
“All right,” says Dad. “It’s decided. The plan will not go ahead.”
I feel like I just dodged a bullet. But the damage is done.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Jason wants me to meet him at the baseball stadium at the back of his school.
I know I’m going down a dark road … one that might just lead to him chained to a chair and tortured, then killed.
Or me. Or both of us.
But as long as I’m careful, we’re safe.
I think.
I’m ready to go. I’m wearing a gray tank, black skinny jeans with rips in the knees, and my boots. I leave my room and walk down the hall as quietly as I can. Nobody is around, and the house is dark. Eddie is asleep in his spot. Good.
I hear a noise, the fridge opening.
It’s the worst timing in all of freaking history.
That might be a slight overreaction. But it’s up there.
I pause. But as I take a step backward, my shoe squeaks.
Shit.
I really regret deciding to wear boots right now.
“Who’s there?” says a voice.
I’m so relieved. It’s just Luke. I step out from the darkness.
Luke’s features soften, and he smiles. He’s wearing a white tank, and his hair is mussed. I haven’t seen it this messy in ages and hadn’t actually realized how long it’s gotten. When it’s slicked down, it looks way shorter. This is a good look for him, though. It brings out the delicate parts of his features. I wonder if he got those from Mom.
“What are you up to?” he asks.
“I got invited to this house party, and I was thinking of going. Don’t tell Dad. Seriously, you can’t.”
“Whoa, calm down, I won’t.” He leans against the open door of the fridge. “It’s about time you started sneaking out; I’ve been doing it for years. Dad’s a heavy sleeper, he won’t hear the car. You want some beers?”
“Huh?”
“For the party? I could be convinced to give you a six-pack. You’ll need to pay me back, though.”
“Er, yeah, sure. That’d be amazing, actually.”
Drinking was already part of the plan. Jason said he was bringing some beers, and he asked me to Uber to the stadium instead of driving, so I could drink. Luke opens the fridge and hands me a six-pack.
“Thanks,” I say.
“No sweat. Just remember, condoms if you hook up. Every time, you hear me?”
“Yeah, I got it.”
“And don’t you dare drink and drive. If you get wasted, call an Uber, or me, and I’ll come pick you up. Anytime, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks. Well, see ya.”
“Have fun.”
I carry the beer outside, where the car I ordered is already waiting. The window slides down.
“Matt, right?” asks the driver.
I nod and get in the car.
* * *
Jason is waiting for me in the parking lot of the stadium.
He’s leaning against a fence. Beside him is a six-pack of beer, a baseball bat, a black mesh bag filled with baseballs, and a tee.
I want to take a snapshot of him. American boy, in his element. I know there’s a lot more than that going on with him, but that’s what he looks like right now. A corn-fed golden boy.
I thank the driver, then grab the beers and climb out.
“Hey,” he says. “You brought refreshments?”
I kick the door shut. “Luke gave ’em to me.”
“Nice.”
I point at the stuff. “We’re going to play baseball?”
“Not exactly. We’re just going to hit a few balls. It’ll be fun, trust me.”
“Those sound like famous last words.”
He laughs. “They sure do.”
We talk up to the front gate. The entire area is surrounded by a chain-link fence. It probably wouldn’t be that hard to climb over, so I wonder if that’s what he’s got in mind. But he pulls a key from his pocket and opens up the padlock. He pushes on the gate, and it swings open, the metal