Page 152 - My FlipBook

L IS A J. L A W R E N C E

If she stepped out of the light, wild animals, shadows, the
boogeyman would snatch her. At one point she heard foot -
steps and turned round and round in a frantic circle, the
phone light bobbing. But then nothing. Bushes rustled.
The wind? Fear wrapped everything in a cold ball inside
of her.
Ash pulled up, hunched over the wheel of Patty’s rusty
Honda Civic. She waved her arms, limping down the road

to meet him. He parked and jumped out, the engine still
running.
“Greta!”
She held herself back from hugging him, clinging. Even
her sore ankle was numb now. Exhaustion nearly knocked
her over—holding everything in so tight. She fell into the
passenger seat and breathed in the warm air, the cloying ADVANCE READING COPY

peach air freshener, her eyes closed.
“Greta, what the hell is going on? What is this place?”
She ignored his eyes on her. “Just drive. I’ll explain.”
Ash watched her for a second before sighing, turning the
car around and heading back the way he’d come.
“Patty will lose her freaking mind, you know,” Ash said,
“if she finds out I’ve taken her car. You’re lucky they had a
few drinks at bingo and wouldn’t wake up for an earthquake.”
Greta nodded, her eyes still closed.

“And I don’t even have my full driver’s license yet. Did
you think of that? I’m taking the bus for the rest of my life if
I get pulled over.”
“Thank you, Ash.”

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