The Haunted - Jessica Verday [107]
“Yes.”
“And you’re staying there overnight? With him?”
“Yes.”
“What time do we leave?”
“We’re leaving at—wait, what? We, as in we? You and me?” Caspian smiled an angelic smile. “Yes. You and me. I’m coming.” I opened my mouth to protest, but Caspian held up a hand and started ticking off each finger as he ran through a list. “I’m going because: One, Vincent Drake is out there, possibly after you. Two, the other Revenants are still out there, possibly after you. Three, Ben is going to be there with you. Alone…” I snorted, and Caspian gave me a look. “I’m a guy. I know how his mind works.”
“He has feelings for Kristen. Not me.”
“Yeah, well, just wait and see what eight hours alone in a car can do.”
“Six,” I mumbled.
He held up a fourth finger. “Four, you’re going to see my grave, and I don’t want you to be alone. Five…” He looked away, like he was trying to think of something else to add. “Five…
we’ll get to spend quality time together. And I love the license-plate game.” One side of my mouth turned up in a smile I couldn’t quite quell. “You’re very persuasive, you know that?”
“I learned from the best, Arm-Twister Abbey.”
Laughter burst out of me. Shaking my head, I said, “We’re leaving at eight a.m. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t.” He grinned. “Pack extra snacks.”
I tried to shove his arm and went right through him, laughing again as my hand bounced harmlessly off the bench. “Don’t make me regret telling you about this. Or I’ll let Ben talk about Star Trek the whole way down,” I warned.
He groaned. “God help us all.”
I shot him a teasing grin, but inside I was already worrying about the trip. One car. Two boys. Six hours. And I had to try to remember to only speak to one of them. God help us all.
The next morning Caspian knocked on my window at seven a.m., and I had to finish getting dressed knowing he was right outside the bathroom door.
Ben showed up at seven forty-five and gallantly hauled my suitcase out to the car, while Caspian stood around casting moody glares at him. I gave him a warning look, but he just ignored me, and I suddenly found myself wishing for some of Aubra’s mom’s Xanax. This trip was going to be anything but relaxing.
Before we left, Mom reminded me again to call her as soon as we reached the hotel, and Dad reminded me again that he’d made separate room reservations. On opposite sides of the hall.
I just nodded and tried to keep a cheerful look on my face, praying that I wouldn’t break out into hives or anything. All I had to do was get in the car and leave the house. They’d never know.
Dad slipped me a fifty-dollar bill “for emergencies” after I hugged him, and then pulled out his wallet to give me two more twenties.
I looked down at the wad of bills in my hand.
“For fun,” he said. I tried to say thanks, but Mom pulled me into an anaconda squeeze and wouldn’t let go.
“Mom.” She was cutting off my air. “Mom.” My arms were going numb. “Okay, Mom! I need to breathe.”
She squeezed me for a second longer and then reluctantly let go. Her eyes were wet, and there was a slightly panicked look in them as she pulled back. She tried to hug me again, but I stopped her.
“Mom, I have to go. We need to leave.”
“I know, I know. Are you sure you have everything? And you promise you’ll take pictures?” I nodded. Of course, my camera had “accidentally” been left in my room, but she didn’t need to know that.
She pitched her voice lower and cast a worried look over at Ben’s Jeep. “Are you sure you’ll be okay? With the… other thing? Do you have Dr. Pendleton’s number, just in case?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Bye, guys.” I turned away from them before Mom could latch on again, and started walking to the car. Throwing my messenger bag into the backseat, I left the door open long enough for Caspian to climb in.
I had to cover my laugh with a fake cough when he whispered, “Anything but Star Trek.
Please, dear God, anything but Star Trek.”
Shooting him a quick Behave glare, I climbed into the front seat.
Ben started up the car, and we both waved as we pulled out of the driveway. Once we were completely