And she was right. Not two hours later and I felt a little better. And while makeup didn’t feel necessary for life anymore, it was something I enjoyed. And staring at my reflection I saw why. I felt pretty.
Roxy had managed to make a super cute style out of my hair. The one side was shaved short and the longer hair on top fell over for a cool, edgy bob. I looked badass.
“Now, there’s my girl,” Gretchen nodded approvingly in the mirror.
“Wow, I look damn fierce.”
“You always do.”
These girls were beginning to mean something to me. Something big. I never thought I’d be the type of girl to have friends. But I liked it.
Chapter 31
Suzie
The only way things were gonna change is if I changed. And I was ready. I couldn’t sit idly by anymore. I had to do something, even if it was stupid.
“What are you doing with my bat?” Gretchen’s question didn’t slow me down.
I looked in the mirror to check my makeup—flawless, obviously—and zipped up my leather coat. “I’m going to Green Valley. I need to find out what’s going on with the Black Demons and Occum. See if anybody heard anything. I’m losing my damn mind.”
“And you think you’re going down there by yourself?” She reached for the bat.
“Nope. I figured you’d insist on coming along.” I winked at her in the mirror.
“Damn right.” She grinned. “My swinging arm is out of practice. Should we call the girls for backup? I have bats hidden all over the damn place.”
“No. I don’t want any more people involved. This is just a fact-finding mission, anyhow.”
Five minutes later we were on the road. The sun shone high overhead. Unfortunately, there was only one highway to Green Valley and it went right by the G-Spot. I didn’t want to look at the building where fear had consumed me.
But of course, I did.
“Stop!” I yelled out.
Gretchen snapped her head to where I looked as she braked sharply. “Jesus, woman! Don’t do that!”
“That’s Ford’s car. Ford’s car is at the G-Spot!”
“Shit.” We were past the G-Spot by now, but she stopped quickly on the shoulder, tires sliding in the dirt.
My thoughts zoomed around a million miles per hour. “Oh my God. What if Occum got him?” My palms slapped the dashboard repeatedly. “ Quick! Turn around. Pull in!”
“I’m going, I’m going. Hang on, it’s gravel. Gotta be easy on my boo.”
All at once, the courage I’d been feeling drained into utter terror. I had to go into the place of my nightmares. Mirrors and blood and nasty words.
“Should we call the police?” I gnawed on my finger and didn’t give a flying fig about my manicure.
“We don’t know what’s going on. Let’s just take a breath and calm down. Did I say breath? I meant a bat. At least one. I’m also packing but probably shouldn’t bring that in. Technically, I’m not legally allowed to have it.”
“Oh my God, Gretch.”
“It’s a technicality.”
I shook my head. “Let’s go in the back. Sneak in. See if we can see anything. I don’t want to get shot before we even get in.”
“So I shouldn’t bring—”
