I’m glad I have the two of them with me so I don’t have to deal with this alone. Now that the adrenaline and fury are under control, I’m itching to get out of here so I can send proof, get the unsealed files from those hackers, and finally tell Thea what I’ve been keeping from her.
“Did you take the locket?” Blair holds up my phone, showing me the photo of the trophy drawer.
My lip curls. I pull out the necklace by the chain, the pendant dangling in the air.
She leans in to examine it. “What do you think those guys who hacked your computer will do?”
“They seem pretty dangerous.” I shrug. “And they wanted it fast. If they don’t do something by next week, I will.”
“I knew he was a creep, but thinking of sitting through class with him is—ugh.” Blair shakes off her shudder, burrowing into Devlin’s side. He wraps his arms around her. To anyone else it might look like a normal embrace, but Devlin’s knuckles turn white from how tight he clings to her, like he’s preventing her from disappearing on him after he almost lost her. “I’m so grossed out right now.”
Devlin props his chin on Blair’s head and cuts his gaze to me. “Ready to head home?”
“Yes. I have the proof one way or another. Time to do what I do best.”
“You’re a real piece of work when you go into blackmail mode.” Devlin smirks, tossing me a set of keys. “Here, take that one. I’ll pick it up tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” I call to them as Devlin opens the passenger door for Blair. “No one I’d rather commit a crime with than you two.”
Blair snorts, glancing up at Devlin.
“Go be the Batman to your girlfriend.” He nods to me before he gets in the driver’s seat and revs the engine.
I watch as the wheels throw gravel and dust while Devlin pulls out of the quarry.
Getting into the car Blair had been driving, I grip the wheel tight. I’m a man on a mission as I turn the ignition and drive home.
Thirty
Thea
When my call goes to Connor’s voicemail, I hang my shoulders in defeat. I thought things would be better after our amazing night in the mountains, but I haven’t been able to get a hold of him for days. Every time I look across the space between our windows, his light has been off.
“You’ve reached Bishop. You know I don’t check this shit, so I don’t know why you’re bothering. Text me.”
There goes my plan to invite him with Maisy and I to the holiday bazaar downtown. Winter break is off to a great start with my boyfriend back to avoiding me.
With a sigh, I set my phone next to the rainbow clock on my nightstand and flop on the bed, hugging my stuffed sea lion.
An unpleasant flutter fills my chest.
Could Connor be bored with me? If he is, why would he tell me…
I close my eyes and just breathe for a second to stop the racing thoughts and nasty inner voice that makes me doubt everything. No matter how hard I try, I can’t keep it at bay.
You’re not good enough to keep someone like him. He’ll forget you soon enough.
I swallow past the lump in my throat. The thoughts chew me up, leaving me raw and vulnerable. Curling on my side, I hug the sea lion tighter, burying my face in the plush fuzziness.
I can’t go back to being invisible. Not to him.
After a few minutes of breathing through the thorns twining around my heart, pricking at every insecurity, I get up and pat my puffy cheeks.
“This calls for double chocolate fudge cupcakes.”
With a sniffle, I text Maisy before the evening yoga sessions start at the wellness and recreation center she volunteers for.
Thea: Great British Bake Off marathon after your class?
Maisy: You got it, dude. Which season?
Thea: [hiding monkey emoji] All of them…?
Maisy: Oh lordt. Should I cancel class? The yoga moms can survive one day without their warrior 2 and downward dog.
Thea: No, no. I’m going to bake us cupcakes until you get here. See you after class!
Maisy sends me two peace sign emojis and promises not to eat all the cupcakes this time. I pull on the hoodie I stole from Connor, press the neckline to my nose, and close my eyes. It feels like he’s hugging me when I wear it.
Downstairs, Constantine follows me into the kitchen while I tie my hair back in a pony tail. A few minutes