“And we haven’t located any family for Cord McCurry. Do you ladies have any idea where to find them?”
My heart lurches in my chest and I look at Lindsay. “We are his family.”
“I mean blood family.”
“You don’t understand, Vernon. We are his family.”
He nods, not understanding, but getting my point.
“There is a Reverend Mitchell here to see you,” he states. “Would you like to see him?”
“Yes. Please,” Lindsay speaks up.
“We’re holding all visitors unless you give us their names specifically. Is there anyone you’d want to see besides your attorney and doctor?”
Lindsay gives them the names of her parents. My heart breaks at the fact I don’t have my parents here.
“Um, Ty’s mom is on a cruise. I’ve called the cruise line and they’re trying to reach her, so if she calls, please put her through. But I’m doubting she’s reachable.”
He looks concerned for a brief moment before smoothing out his features. Eric Parker told us when he visited earlier that Blackwater would try to segregate us from outsiders until this is resolved. He suggested we stay here for proximity purposes, but to fight for access for whomever we wanted to see. So far, we haven’t wanted to see anyone.
“The media is asking if you have a statement . . .”
“They should contact Eric Parker if they have questions,” I report.
“Very well. I’ll send the reverend back.”
I watch the door for the Reverend Mitchell’s silver head to pop around the door.
“Did you choose pink and silver because it’ll match the Reverend’s hair?” Ty laughs, stretching his legs out on the tailgate of the truck.
Moon Mountain is lit up with a million fireflies twinkling around us. I press my cheek against his chest and cuddle against him.
“No, I picked it because it’s pretty,” I say, listening to his heart beat.
“You know what else is pretty?”
“What’s that?”
“You.”
“You think I’m pretty?”
TY
“You think I’m pretty?”
I watch the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen blush at the idea. How could she not know? How could she not have a clue that she’s all I think about as she sits in front of me in math? How does she not understand she’s all I’ve thought about when I’m alone since she showed up to our school ten days ago?
“I hope you’ll think about being my girlfriend.”
Her blush deepens as I try not to do something stupid and ruin my chances before I get this locked down. I’m afraid to say too much, smile too big, touch her too much just in case I’ll burn any points I’ve managed to get with the gorgeous new girl in class.
“Really?” Her voice is soft, just like the faint scent of strawberries in her hair. “You want to go out with me?”
“Who wouldn’t want to go out with the prettiest girl they’ve ever seen?”
A light flickers to my right. It’s weak, an almost brown hue instead of the yellow light that usually comes out of the headlamps. Cord’s face sags, bags evident under his eyes. “Everyone good?”
We all nod because anything more would be a lie.
The light flips off again and the darkness takes over.
“I fucking hate the dark,” Cord laughs. “I always leave the light on in the bathroom down the hallway at night because I hate waking up to pitch black.”
“My dad always said you’re safer in the dark because the odds are even between you and whatever is after you,” Jiggs relays. “I don’t think this counts.”
“This fucking sucks,” Cord says, blowing a breath. “I need a fucking shower and I don’t know if it’s more to get clean or warm up.”
Everything is damp. Even the little platform we built now has water just below the tops of the rocks. The chill is settling in our bones, making our bodies ache.
“Better get used to this not sleeping stuff,” I say. “Lindsay is having a baby, you know.”
“Yeah . . .” Jiggs voice trails off and I know he’s considering our situation. But I need his spirits up. We need to stay as positive as we can for as long as we can.
Until we can’t.
I can’t go there. I feel like I should, to prepare, but how do you prep for . . . that?
“You’re naming it after me, right?” I ask instead to distract me as much as anyone.
He snorts, the sound making me grin. I can imagine him shaking his head, rolling his eyes—but I have to imagine it because, although he’s a foot away from me, I can’t see him.
“Lindsay thinks it’s a girl,” Jiggs says.