Page 66 of The Night Shift
“No.” Her voice comes out a small squeak. It’s almost as if she’s embarrassed. It’s so adorable.She’sadorable.
“What kind of a murderer doesn’t know how to drive?”
She glares at me. “The same kind that’s about to stab you again if you don’t stop yapping. Nowdrive.”
The stale air inside the car presses against my skin like a moist towel. I start the ignition and place my clammy palms over the steering wheel. “All right, love. Where are we going?”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Love?” I ask and she nods. I grin. “Why? Does it irritate you?”
“Yes,” she grumbles.
“Then not likely.”
“Just start the fucking car and take the first exit on the freeway,” she says, sounding quite vexed indeed. “I’ll give you directions on the way.” She pulls out a half-eaten chocolate protein bar from her pocket and bites into it. Several crumbs ofchocolate and granola stick to her lower lip, a few falling onto the seat.
I wince. “Can you not do that, please?”
She glances at me over her shoulder. “Why? Does it irritate you?” She tilts her head to a side and juts out her lower lip in a pout, and even though I know it’s all fake, I’m a fucking goner. Afuckinggoner.
“Yes, Holly. It irritates me. I have a no-eating rule in my car…What? Wh-why are you…what’s wrong?”
She’s laughing — and god, I’ve never made Holly laugh before. At least not in a way that was genuine. An actual, real, breath of a laugh. One that lights up her face and crinkles the corners of her eyes. I could get off to the sound of her laugh alone. It’s so pure and angelic. It sets something loose in my chest. Something warm and fluttery. Tingly. I want to make her laugh again. And again. And again. For the rest of my life if I’m allowed.
“Nothing.” She shakes her head, without looking at me. I really wish she would. I want to capture the nuances of her expression and study them, right down to every microscopic detail. “I just didn’t know you were such a clean freak.”
“So what if I am? Why is that funny?”
She uses the back of her hand to clean her mouth, wiping the crumbs onto the sleeve of my bloody shirt. “Because if you have a problem with me eating a protein bar in your car, then you’re definitely not going to like what’s stashed inside the trunk.”
Chapter 13
Holly
I should be more patient in situations like these, but now that I finally know who’s been stalking me, all I want to do is cut his throat and play around in his blood.
“Faster!” I yell as Theo stabs the shovel into the bitter earth, bending forward to catch his breath. “We don’t have all night!”
He looks over his shoulder, holding the shovel in one hand and pushing his sweaty hair off his brow with the other. I stay seated on the hood of his car with my legs crossed and start scrolling through his phone, sifting through the endless list of stolen text messages.
Friday, Nov 16th, 2021
April: Movie tonight? I made popcorn :)
Holly: Working tonight. But I’ll try swinging by.
April: No worries! Ly <3
Tuesday, Jan 25th, 2022
Camille: this detergent removes blood stains but not pinot noir?
Monday, April 10th, 2022
April: Don’t forget to wish Parker today! It’s his birthday :)
Holly: Got it.
