Page 171 of Ice Darling
Oh no.
If she catches me like this…
I spin around, searching for somewhere to hide.
“Yes, I’m sure. Wait right there. I’ll come upstairs and help you get ready for school!”
Renthrow turns back around and makes a telephone gesture with his thumb and pinkie fingers extended.I’ll call you.
I give him the “okay” sign and linger out of sight until he disappears up the stairs. Their voices get quieter and quieter until they’re swallowed up behind the distinct click of a door closing.
That’s my cue.
Wasting no time, I sprint out of the house and move my bike manually down the road. I designed my muffler to be as loud as possible because that’s the kind of gal I am, but I don’t want toalert the entire neighborhood to the fact that I’m doing the bike ‘walk of shame’.
Lucky Falls is small enough that—with one guttural roar of my engine—news of my night with Renthrow would become a raging forest fire of gossip by noon.
As I’m pushing my bike down the street, my phone vibrates.
It’s Renthrow.
I put the device to my ear. “Did Gordie see anything?”
“She’s none the wiser.”
“That’s a relief.”
Renthrow’s voice lowers in pitch. “We should tell her.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“How often do you plan on sneaking out before she wakes up?”
“First of all, this would never have happened ifsomeonehad woken me up in an hour like he promised…”
Renthrow chuckles.
“…And I don’t plan on making this a habit.”
“Why not? I loved being woken up to you kissing me.”
I halt with the bike in the middle of the street. “Let’s set the record straight.Youkissed me.”
“That’s not how I remember it. I distinctly remember you kissing me first.”
“You were making out with me in your dreams long before you started kissing me in real life, Renthrow.”
I can imagine his ears getting red as he sputters, “In my defense, the real you was much better.”
“Just curious. Do you ask before kissing in your dreams too?”
Renthrow chuckles. “By the way, how’s your bike so quiet? I didn’t hear you start it up.”
“I’ll ride when I’m a few blocks away first.”
“Cordelia.” His tone is disapproving.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve done this before.”
