Page 58 of Even in the Dark

“Grounding?”

“Yeah.”

Her eyes go wide, then she schools her features and tries to look chill. Too late. I saw enough to know I’m an idiot for not knowing what grounding means.

“Just… when you’re not allowed out of the house for a certain amount of time, basically.”

I poke at my lip ring with my tongue. “Been grounded since I got here, then.”

She nods. Stares at me for a second longer than feels comfortable. Then looks out the window again, and more softly, she says, “Also, if you want me to be totally honest… the drone story didn’t happen tonight.” She glances at me. “It did happen. But it was last year.”

I wait. Not sure what to say to that. Girl lies a lot.

“But the rest is true—about wanting to see how you’re doing. I just wasn’t sure what to say at first. It seemed awkward to just come out and ask.”

“Well, I’m fine,” I tell her. “So you can leave.”

I don’t trust her. Still don’t get what her angle is.

She doesn’t move. Doesn’t look like she even heard me. Then she jerks her chin towards my chest. “You fixed your Lucky Six necklace.”

I don’t say anything. Pretty obvious I did; it’s hanging around my neck.

Makes me think of Kenz. How she acted different when I got back from the hospital. I rub my neck again. “Doesn’t matter. She’s scared of me now.”

No idea why I said that out loud, and I wish I could take it back. But Scarlett doesn’t miss a beat. Doesn’t show some huge reaction or anything, thank fuck. But she does respond right away. “You think Kenz is scared after everything this evening, you mean?”

I don't answer. Pissed I said anything about it at all. Worried I'm getting weak and caving in to her.

“She’ll bounce back,” Scarr says. “She was probably just a little shaken up after, uh…” Her eyes meet mine. “After seeing you like that,” she finishes.

I glance down at my mummified right hand. Don’t want to meet her eyes again.

“Just give her some time. She’ll start to trust you again.”

I keep quiet. Still regretting opening my big mouth. Letting this beautiful, sly girl know I give a crap. Letting her know anything about me.

“Seriously, Dylan. Kenz will bounce back.”

I don’t say anything.

“You should talk to her,” Scarlett goes on, like we’re having some breezy conversation here, instead of just her talking and me lasering my eyes at the cast I didn’t really need. “Nothing deep or anything. Just tell her you’re sorry. Reassure her you wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt her, or—”

My eyes snap up. “Iwouldn’tever do anything to hurt her.”

“Okay, so then tell her that.”

I roll my lip ring between my teeth. “I’m not gonna talk to her about that. It’s fine. You can—”

“You should read her one of those comics,” Scarlett interrupts.

“Huh?”

“Those comics you collect—you should read one to Kenz. Tomorrow night when it’s her bedtime, ask Diane if you could read to her. Or anytime, really. Bedtime just seems like an easy time. That way you don’t feel like you have to… you know, talk or whatever. But it’ll be a gesture to let her know you care about her, and—”

“I didn’t say I care about her.”

“Relax.” She rolls her eyes. “Your secret’s safe with me. I’m not going to let it out of the bag that you actually give a shit about someone.”

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