“Everyone set?” Talon asks, starting the car.
“Yep, let’s get out of here,” my dad answers for the rest of us.
As the engine turns over, Locklyn flips her visor down and our eyes connect in the mirror. Her gaze jumps over, and I think she’s glancing at Becks before looking back at me. And when she does, I swear I read pity there.
The first pit stop we take back in civilization, I run to the single-stall bathroom with my secret phone. Even though I wasn’t able to make any calls at the cabin, I kept the phone charged, just in case. Now that we’re off the mountain and I have reception, however spotty, I need to connect with Tate and Kendra. They’re probably worried sick about me, and also . . . I need to talk to my friends. If anyone can give me advice about the mess I’m in with Becks, it’s them.
I’m already dialing as I lock the door behind me. It rings three times before Kendra picks up. “This better be Haven, but if it is, I’m going to kill her for making me think she was dead in a ditch somewhere.”
“It’s me,” I say, a smile on my face.
“Haven, girl, thank goodness you’re okay,” she says, her voice thick with relief. Then with her next breath she says, “But you and I need to have words for going dark for over two weeks. I’ve been a mess!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t have any reception.”
“No reception. Where were you? The moon?”
“More remote,” I say with a chuckle. “Is Tate around.”
“No, and she’s going to be so upset she missed you. Are your parents all right?” she asks. “We tried to find them at the hospital like you asked, but they disappeared. It only worried us more.”
“They’re fine. Dad had to have surgery, but he’s recovering and is going to be okay.”
She sighs in relief. “Well, at least there’s that. Now that I know everyone’s still alive and kickin’, tell me everything. Are you all right? Are you coming back? Have you made babies yet with that gorgeous hunk of?—?”
“Kendra!”
“That was a legit question,” she says, and I shake my head, rolling my eyes even though there’s no one to see me.
This girl. I can’t help but love her.
“Actually . . .” I start, and then bite my lip, not knowing where to even begin.
Kendra squeals so loud on the other end of the line that I have to jerk the phone away from my ear.
“You did!” she accuses. “I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“No, I didn’t,” I quickly correct her, “but there have been some . . . incidents.”
I take a quick couple of minutes to spill my guts, leaving out anything supernatural. I can practically hear her swooning on the other side of the phone when I tell her about our first kiss. I update her that my parents are with me right now and we’re still laying low, and that a friend of Becks and her husband are helping us, leaving out the whole twin information because it’s just too much to get into right now.
I go on to explain how things quickly progressed with Becks, and Kendra pipes in at the appropriate times with questions like any good friend, but then I drop the bomb about what I overheard and she goes silent. I end with how we’re moving locations and how I don’t know how to act around Becks anymore.
“Haven, are you okay?” she asks quietly when I finally stop talking.
“Yeah. Sure, I mean . . . yes.” My throat starts to tighten.
“You’re not,” she says, and it’s true.
My eyes fill with tears. I just need someone to tell me what to do. “I’m . . . I really like him.”
“From what you’ve told me, it sounds like he likes you too. I think you need to sit down and have a talk with him. Put all the cards on the table.”
“I know. I should, but . . . I’m just . . .”
“Scared?” she asks gently.
“I am,” I confess, because she can’t see me nod.
