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“I know his birthday is tomorrow. Just like yours.”
I look away, at anything but Garrett. “Okay?”
“I think you may have disappeared because you were thinking about him.”
“I told you I just needed some time away, Garrett. Let’s not make it a big deal.”
“From your own home?” he asks, confused. There’s urgency in his eyes as he silently demands answers and, truthfully, I don’t feel like answering them right now. It’s not the time to talk about Warren or our birthday. Not that it would even matter because he’s not here to celebrate it anymore, and I’m not in the mood to celebrate my own.
“Look, Garrett, no offense, but you and I don’t talk about things this personal, so forgive me if I don’t want to talk about my brother right now.”
His eyes grow bigger, as if shocked by my statement. Something about his eyes alarms me. They darken in a way I’ve never seen before. Taking his hands out of his pockets, he steps closer to me. “I get that, but I’m yourboyfriend, Willow. And I’m trying to be here for you.”
“You’re not my boyfriend! When did we ever say we’re a couple?”
“Are you fucking kidding? I bring you shit every day. I spend time with you, spend the night with you, check in on you!”
“Yeah, you do most of thatwithoutrunning it by me! You think you own me, but you don’t!”
“What did you just say?” His eyes flare, his nostrils too. I was right. Something about his eyes has changed, and I can’t put my finger on it. He takes another step closer, and I draw in a calming breath.
“Look, I really have to go.”
“Why the hell are you trying to avoid me?” He’s right in front of me now, and he grips my upper arm with both hands.It startles me to the point that tears creep to my eyes, and I’m reminded of Rami. The hopelessness. The fear.
“Garrett, let go of me,” I say through clenched teeth.
“You’re so fucking ungrateful,” he growls in my face. “It’s no wonder you’re so alone and miserable.”
His words are like a slap to the face. I stare at him, stunned, then shove him hard against the chest, forcing him off me. His back hits the side of a car, and his eyes widen.
“Fucking leave!”
“What?”
“You heard me! Leave!” I shout. “Or I’m calling the cops!”
He glares at me while shaking his head. “Fine. You know what?” He turns around, snatching up the iced coffees and box of pastries and chucking them on the ground. Cream and coffee spill on the blacktop, running toward the pile of muffins.
“You’re a fucking bitch, Willow! You’ve wasted so much of my time and you’re gonna regret that shit!” With those words in the air, he storms away. My heart pounds in my chest as I watch him return to his car, start the engine, and peel off, his tires screeching.
When he’s gone, I close my eyes, draw in a deep breath, and then open them to climb into my car.
It won’t be the last time I see him, I’m sure of it, but for now, he’s not the priority. Getting back to Caz is.
Fifty-Nine
WILLOW
The scentof ground coffee beans envelopes me as I step into Lit and Latte’s. The bell above the door chimes, and the warmth of the shop wraps around me, combining with the moisture that has accumulated on the back of my neck and upper lip. Nervous sweat.
Two employees stand behind the checkout counter, one working the café, chomping on a piece of gum as she shoves a pastry into the toaster oven. People are seated at tables by the window with books or laptops, peacefully sipping their drinks. It’s all so simple, and I wonder if any of them realize there’s a bigger world out there. There’s so much more than we know. Hell, I bet Vakeeli isn’t the only other universe that exists. There are probably thousands more waiting to be discovered.
I shake the thought away and make my way to the book checkout counter, where a girl with green hair and a septum piercing smiles as I approach. Her name badge is covered inHarry PotterandTwilightpins, and her name is Valeria.
“Hi. Is Faye in?” I ask.
“She is. I believe she’s in the office. Do you want me to get her for you?”
