Page 106 of Kiss Slay Replay

I scan the horizon, the mountains. Is one of them a dormant volcano? I never considered a natural disaster, but that could be next. Incinerated by hot lava. Sure, why not?

“Beautiful night,” Danny says, pulling me in closer.

I wriggle away. “Yeah. Let’s not…I don’t want people to know we…”

“Ah.” He seems a little wounded, and I almost feel bad.

Tanya hovers in my line of sight, chatting with Ravi and Luke and Cass, who is wearing an expression of pure disdain because as much as she gives me tough love and a hard time, she is unwavering in her loyalty.

Tanya must sense me watching her, feel the prod of my prolonged stare, because she turns and looks right at me.

I panic, attempt to smile, but my lips catch on my teeth. She returns a strained smile and turns back toward Ravi.

I have no idea how I’m going to get her alone to ask her about time loops. It’d sure be nice if this just all resolved itself and I could live happily ever after without having to interact with her.

“Willa.” Evan pops up out of nowhere. “Hello. Who’s your new friend?”

“I think we’ve met,” Danny says. “I’m Danny. Closest thing Jason has to a brother. You’re Evan, right?”

“I am. You look so different. Last time I saw you your head was shaved, and you had a long beard.”

“Ah, I remember that phase. Not my finest look,” he says, laughing.

“Sure,” Evan says. “Willa, Wyatt is looking for you. Why don’t we…”

“Oh. All right. Danny, I’ll…I’ll see you later, yeah?”

“Yeah, yeah. Okay,” he says, again appearing slightly stung by my dismissal.

Evan drags me toward the mobile bar. “Willa Jean.”

“That’s not my middle name.”

“Yes, it is.”

“No, it isn’t. Do you not know my middle name?” I look at Ev, and he’s smirking.

“Willa Ann,” he says. “Now that I’ve got your attention. What happened there, you little slut.”

“We really need to work on your whispering skills. And I am not a little slut,” I say. “I’m a big slut.”

Evan laughs too loud. People turn and stare.

“I will tell you all the details later as long as you promise to show the tiniest bit of discretion. Can you manage that?”

“I genuinely don’t know.”

Everyone’s attention has shifted toward the reception hall. The crowd migrates in that direction.

“Must be dinner.”

“Must be,” Ev says. “Shall we?”

We follow the crowd. As we travel under the center floral arch, the wind blows, and the arch sways, and I swear I hear a voice. Voices. Little whispers. Giggles.

“Did you say something?” I ask Evan. “Do you hear something?”

“Just you breathing. Why are you panting like that?”