“I haven’t even told you the best part. Well, the best part for only you, since we’re not doing your dad.” Michael cut me a poisonous smile.
“When we get the drugs, we’ll be helping Cyndra with her stepdad. One of the drugs we’ll get, Depo-Provera. It’s birth control, but it’s also used to chemically castrate sexual offenders. Usually given by injection, but I’ll let her in on my drug-his-beer idea. He’ll never know it’s happening. So we’ll be helping her, too.”
The people in the road yelled and shoved. Hard to tell if it was the start of a fight or just playing.
“Birth control? This guy’s an obstetrician?” I asked.
“I told you. It’s a suite of offices.”
He couldn’t have it both ways. Either Cyndra had her stepdad exactly where she wanted him, or she was a victim.
When I thought she was a victim, he’d told me she was in control. Now he said she was a victim, so I’d believe we were helping her.
“Why do you want me to care about it? I’ve already said I’ll come,” I said.
Michael’s eyes shot between my face and the play-fight in the road. “No reason. I just thought you would.”
“I don’t.”
He shrugged. “Whatever you say.” He popped his door open, climbed out of the car without waiting.
We walked back into the crowd.
I told myself not to watch Cyndra as she sat down next to Michael. Curled around his back, chin resting on his shoulder. The perfect girlfriend pose for the perfect boyfriend.
I sat on another hood and slapped hands when they were presented. One thought I couldn’t stop, needle-dragging in my mind.
It would all be over soon. Janie and me, leaving all this crap behind.
I told myself I couldn’t wait.
Cyndra glanced at me. My heart shuddered.
Monique was watching me, hip cocked. Ray-Ray and Mike-Lite were standing just like they did every time they were together in a crowd: Mike-Lite wrapped over and around her shoulders. Her head rested against him. All of them doing what they always do, oblivious.
Maybe they’d miss me. Maybe she would, too.
Cyndra saw me watching her. A little smile hovered on her mouth, telling me she liked the way I looked at her.
She said something to Michael and slid off the car, walking down the road a ways before slipping between two cars and into the dark woods at the edge of the road.
She didn’t have to look back to know that I would follow.
I drained my beer and waited a minute before walking around behind the cars, slipping into the dark after her.
She was waiting for me just a few feet into the trees. Her hand floated toward my face, like the day in the food court, moving slow, like sudden movement might make me attack or take off.
She stroked my cheek, then stepped into me, nuzzling her forehead against my neck. “Let’s go somewhere, Jason.”
Hot needles stung my eyes. I wanted to unwrap my arms from around my sides and hold her, pull her tight and feel her hug me back. I wanted to be out of the dark on the side of the road, standing in front of a headlight, everyone watching, everyone knowing.
That I was worth it.
I took a step back.
Her hand stayed in the air for a moment before it dropped. “My car’s this way.”
We walked to it, passing behind Michael and the rest of them. She drove us through the city and over the river. Winding our way down deserted streets to where the water lapped the shore.
I didn’t mention the plan to break into the doctors’ offices or ask her if she would really want that drug for her stepfather. Because I wanted something from her that was just for me. That didn’t have Michael, or his games, or Cesare, or drugs, or anything else.
Just us.
After, she drove me to the edge of Lincoln Green. Gave me a goodnight kiss. I tried to pretend we weren’t counting down to the last one she’d ever give me.
I walked to Clay’s house and let myself in with the hidden key. Spent the night on the sofa, staring up at the featureless ceiling, telling myself it was good that it was almost over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
On the walk to the bus stop the next morning, I told Janie and Clay about the doctors’ offices. Gave all the reasons why I would be going along.
“I don’t know.” Janie scuffed the heels of her shoes as she walked.
“Yeah,” Clay agreed. “It sounds risky.”
“Inside job, though,” I said. “I was at the meeting with Trent. Easy money.”
“No such thing. Besides, haven’t you made a lot already?” Clay shook hair out of his eyes. “Maybe it’s time to start hedging your bets.”
“Jason, we already have enough for—” Janie started.
I cut cold eyes at her, warning her not to say any more. Not to mention how we were going to start The Plan early.
“—for now,” Janie finished.
I’d find a better time to tell Clay. When Janie and I knew more. Like where we were going and how we were going to get there. All the questions he would ask.
“Can always use more. Especially that much more.” I shoved Clay slightly, bumping him sideways into Janie. “It’ll be fine. I can handle it, and if it goes wrong, all goes to hell, or if the zombie apocalypse comes, I’ll ditch them.”
“And come back for us,” Janie said, a slight smile quirking her mouth.
“Even if I have to fight a zombie horde, uphill through the snow—”
“Both ways,” Clay added.
“Who ignores the laws of topography like that?” I asked. “Uphill both ways? Impossible.”
“Don’t care. That’s what it’ll be. It’s the zombie apocalypse. The world as you know it has ceased to exist.” Clay’s voice, like a self-important teacher.
“Can zombies fly in this world? Just wondering what other rules you’re changing.”
Clay clapped a hand to his head. “Why did I never think of that? Flying zombies!” He mimed holding a fat cigar between two fingers, then pretended to put it between his teeth.
“Someone take this down.” He made a frame with his hands. “Flying zombies. Genius! Cupcake, get that hotshot director on the horn.” He waved at Janie like she was his secretary.