Page 206 of Things We Hide from the Light
“Don’t mind me. Brain freeze,” I said.
Brain freeze, life-altering epiphany—same difference, right?
“We talked to your aunt and Knox and they said it was okay if we asked you some questions about that night,” Nash continued. “Are you all right with that?”
Waylay shrugged carelessly and chased a drip with her tongue. “Sure. Why not?”
“What do you remember?” I asked.
She shot me a duh look. “Uh, everything? You don’t get abducted by your mom and her crazy boyfriend every day. It’s kinda burned into my brain.”
“Let’s focus on when you were in the warehouse alone with Duncan,” Nash suggested. “What did he say or do before your mom came back with your aunt?”
“Well, he fed me somedisgustingpizza. It was, like, burnt and cold at the same time. Then when I tried to climb out a window with Waylon, he tied us both up.”
Ever the hero, Nash’s shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly. I reached behind Waylay and rubbed his back with my non-ice cream holding hand.
“What did he do while you were tied up?” I asked.
“Mostly played video games. He ate a lot. Mostly shitty—I mean crappy pizza and some candy. I think he’s a nervous eater. Aunt Naomi wouldfreakif she saw his diet.”
“Did he talk on the phone at all while you were there?” Nash asked.
Waylay wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think so. He mostly just yelled while he playedDragon Dungeon Quest.” She looked back and forth between us, then added, “That’s a video game where you shoot people with arrows and blow sh—stuff up.”
“Did anyone else come into the room while you were there?”
“I guess a couple of…what do you call the bad guys who work for the bad guy in charge?”
“Henchmen?” I supplied.
“Yeah. A couple of henchmen came in. Every time Duncan had to take his headset off, he got mad and yelled at them for interrupting him.”
Waylay walked us through everything she remembered that night, including Naomi diving through the air to save her and Knox squashing them “like pancakes” until Uncle Nash saved the day.
“My mom has the worst taste in guys.” Waylay finished her recap with a sardonic shake of her head. “Not like you and Aunt Naomi,” she added, looking at me.
“Oh, uh, we’re just…” I looked to Nash. “Help?”
“Yeah, me and Knox are pretty great. Well, mostly me. Knox is okay. If you’re into growly grumps who pout all the time,” Nash said, nudging Waylay with his elbow.
It was sweet to watch him with the guarded girl. He was good with kids. And why in the hell was I thinking about that? “Good with kids” had never once been a criterion for me.
“Thanks again for Career Day. Don’t tell Knox, ’cause he really will pout, but you and the ’stache definitely won.”
“Yes! I knew it!” Nolan, who was clearly eavesdropping, straightened away from the front bumper of his SUV and celebrated his official victory with an arm pump.
“You have ice cream in your mustache,” I called.
Sloane:Question. Does following Nash and Lina on their ice cream interrogation of Waylay count as a second date for me and Nolan? Asking for a friend who only puts out after the third date.
Naomi: It most definitely counts. You are one date away from Sexville!
Me: When are you seeing him again?
Sloane: Not before I get a wax, apply a thick coat of sunless tanner, heal from said wax, change my sheets, and buy some underwear.
Naomi: What do you mean buy some underwear? Don’t you mean buy some sexy underwear?
