Page 13 of Unhinged Love

Or is there? She wants to be afraid? I’ll give her plenty of reasons to be afraid if she crosses me.

“Don’t worry,” I mutter. “I’ll make it work. And if she knows what’s good for her, she’ll stay far away.”

“Tiana!” Preston waves over the top of my head, looking past me. “Party this weekend at Carter’s! Friday night. You know what that means.”

Well, it’s official now.

Tiana practically licks her lips when I turn to see her with a group of her friends, whose eyes light up before they giggle and nudge each other knowingly. “We’ll be there,” she confirms, giving me a long look before continuing through the cafeteria.

She’s kind of a necessary evil, always hanging around, but she has hot friends, so she’s not all bad.

And by the end of the day, everybody at school is going to know where to be on Friday night. The more I think about it, the better the idea sounds. I can use a release, that much is for sure.

Just one thing stands in my way.

No matter how confident I am in front of my friends, it’s a different story by the time I’m behind the wheel with the freak next to me. I can addsnitchto the list of names I’ve given her in my head—I’m still bitter over that fucking phone call from Dad.

And I waste no time telling her about it. “You know, you could have maybe called me to see why I left without you thismorning. Or you could’ve called down the stairs to let me know you were running late.”

I don’t expect an answer. I know better already.

“Next time, if you’re running late, tell me so. It’s pretty fucking rude to leave somebody waiting for you and not say anything until you have no choice but to dime them out. Don’t do it again.”

The most I get is a soft snort. At least it’s a reaction. I know she’s alive over there—I’m sure as hell not looking at her if I can help it.

Might as well get to the point. There’s still plenty of time before we get home, and I want to have this settled when we do. “Listen. There’s gonna be a party at the house this weekend. Friday night, after the parents leave for their trip.”

What a surprise—the fact that she sits there silent, like she’s never heard of a party. Would I be surprised if that was true? “Don’t worry. Nobody expects you to come.”

Glancing her way, I notice how she stares straight ahead and holds her backpack a little closer to her chest, arms folded across it.

“In fact, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay in your room all night. Door locked,” I add. “Nobody wants you there. You would only ruin the mood.”

Is there a magic word I need to find to get through to her? What can I say to get a reaction? Because even though I don’t want to hear her voice ever, it’s damn unnerving to basically talk to myself.

“But here’s the most important part. Here’s where I need you to listen very carefully and do exactly as I say, or else I will make you regret it with every breath you take for the rest of your life.”

She only shifts a little in her seat, like she’s uncomfortable, but says nothing. Still.

“You will not say a word about this to my dad or your mom. Not a single word. You got it?”

When silence is all the answer I get, I snap, “I want to hear it. Do you understand?”

Still, the only thing I hear from her is breathing.

Until—

“And what would happen if I do tell them? What if I say no?”

So somebody decided to find their voice.

Of all the fucking times, she chooses now to push back? I’m so surprised, I don’t know what to say at first. I mean, the answer is obvious, but I can’t believe she would make me say it out loud. Or is this only a rhetorical question?

Maybe I should let her know how it feels to be ignored.

No, on second thought, she needs to hear this.

Once I’ve pulled into the driveway and parked next to Dad’s BMW, I engage the child locks on the doors—they can only be controlled from my door panel once I engage them.

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