With the sweet relief of his demise in mind, I switch to the burner phone to see what Junction has to say about the information I provided last night.
What Junction has to say is, unfortunately, disappointing. Not to mention just about as stupid as Malcolm’s message.
Junction:ask him out 2 Fantasy Haven
Junction:mor 2 follow 1ce confrmd
He cannot be serious. He wantsmeto get Malcolm to a theme park about an hour from here?
I have never been to a theme park in my life.
They’re full of people and children, and they’remassive, and outdoors, so it’s not like any part of them can beproperly cleaned. I won’t survive.
As far as things Idon’t want to dogo, I’m pretty sure this is tied withseduce the man I hate most in the world. Yet again, karma seems to be coming for me, and I realize with stark clarity thatthisis why agreeing to kill someone is a bad idea.
It might involve being sent to atheme parkagainst your will.
Defeated, but committed, I construct my response, for once grateful it takes so long.
Me:I’ll do my best.
?
Malcolm, for lack of a more accurate word, appears…delighted.
Which is the stupidest thing ever, considering it’s aMonday, and everyone in the universe hates Monday.
Fingers laced before his lips while he sits at his desk, he stares at me, eyes shimmering. “A date?” he asks, low voice airier than I have ever heard it in my life. “You want to go on a date with me?”
Wantis such a strong word, isn’t it?
Ignoring the swirl in my stomach, I manage to vocalize a communication; go me. “It seems prudent, doesn’t it? For…” I stuff any inkling of an emotion down into the pit of my gut where it belongs. “…my purposes.”
Something nearlyadoringpossesses him. His shoulders slope forward as a breath leaves his body, and every visible muscle in him loosens. “How do you plan to abuse me on our first date, darling dove?”
TBD. Maybe I’ll retch on him. “Who knows, crooked crow.”
Elation sparks, and he drops his arms, sitting rod-straight in his chair. “Crow?”
I wince. “An insufferable nickname to match the revolting one you’ve given me. You’re welcome.”
“I love it,” he declares, alldreamy. “Thank you so much.”
My flesh prickles with unease, so I move steadily along toward the point. “Anyway.” I sift through the files in my arms that Malcolm wants me to review and condense for him. Retrieving the pamphlet I printed off earlier, I step toward his desk and set it on the dark wood. There, it stands out in a large way, all the promised enchantment of the park gleaming within the pit of the black surrounding it. “I’d like to go here.”
Yet, again,likeis such a strong word…
He barely glances down. “Done. I’ll arrange everything.”
“It’s an hour drive. So we probably should discuss transportation.”
“We’ll take my car.”
I tense. “I’d prefer…we don’t.”
“You’d rather I drive yours?”
I…also actually really desperately hate the idea of him in my car, much less driving it. Somehow, he’d stain all the white leather beyond repair, and I’d never get it clean again. I’d need to get a new vehicle, but it took me ages to get this one exactly the way I need it, not to mention the costs. Yes, I’m paid well. No, I don’t want to burn through cash. Because what if Ineedit? For something. At some point. The second I have to buy a new car and cosmetically update it, my apartment will burn down, and then I’ll have nothing but dark, dingy ash. No place to go. Nowhere clean or safe to live.
