“I hope they can’t track us or anything.”
“Me too.”
They fell into another silence and she wasn’t sure how to continue the conversation.
“Wait, I think I see car lights.” Adrian suddenly perked up.
“Wait, if it’s the police, then why aren’t they coming from that direction?” Her heart stopped. “Oh, God, please don’t tell me it’s them.”
Adrian quickly checked the locks, then kept his eyes on the rearview mirror.
“Is it their car?” She squeezed his hand. “Oh my God, please tell me it isn’t.”
“I can’t tell, it’s too dark and they have their brights on.”
“Oh sh*t. Everything’s locked, right?” Her voice was starting to convey the panic she felt.
“Yeah, I think so.” He was tensing up and Aria was not ready for another confrontation.
“Should we hide?”
He looked at her. “There aren’t too many spots to hide. Is there anything that can be used as a weapon?”
She scrambled around the seats to search. “Anything in the glove compartment?”
Adrian opened the compartments in the front and shook his head. “No.”
“Sh*t.” Aria then looked at Mira. “How is she still out cold?”
“It’s probably better that way.” Adrian bit his lip.
Flight was not an option, so fight mode was on.
“What’s the plan?”
“Stay inside unless we have to fight. It’s dark, it’s cold, and you’re weaponless so we’re definitely at a disadvantage.”
“F*cking hell, when we get back, I’m taking taekwondo classes,” she growled.
He didn’t speak but kept his eyes on the rearview.
She didn’t want to die today.
She didn’t want to die like this.
Aria wanted to save Mira and get her some help. She wanted to help Adrian stop being such an angsty teen. She wanted to show up Ms. Anderson one more time because her book choices were awful. She wanted to see Henry and Nancy finally get together after how many years. She wanted to pass chemistry and then burn all the papers related to the class. She wanted to finally beat Evan at that stupid video game that was somehow rigged. She wanted to graduate from college with a degree to make her mom smile and her dad proud.
Aria wanted to live her life.
“Hey, Adrian,” she called out in a rush, not entirely thinking through about what she was about to say, but she wasn’t going to die with a million regrets.
“Yeah?”
“I like you.”
“What?” He seemed genuinely dumbfounded.
“I said I like you.”
Chapter 27
Adrian
Adrian’s mind couldn’t come up any words so Aria had to repeat herself.
He wanted someone to punch him to see if he was really awake.
“Could you say that again?”
“Adrian!”
“Sorry, sorry.”
“Is that all you’re saying?”
“I . . . uh, sh*t.” He looked into the rearview and saw that the car was closer, but at the same time, Aria’s concerned face was etched into his brain.
“This is really bad timing, but I like you a lot, too.”
She seemed to be relieved and a nervous smile graced her face.
“Good.”
“Great.”
“We’re talking about this later.”
“Yeah, we’re totally talking about this later.” Adrian kept his eyes on the car. “You don’t think that they’ll ram us, do you?”
“I hope not,” Aria whispered while looking through the back window. “Would they?”
“I don’t know.”
The bright lights became unbearably painful and fear fell into his stomach. He was more than ready to fight for their lives, but he was going to be outnumbered. Even if Aria was filled with adrenaline, he would prefer her to stay back and protect Mira as a last resort more than anything.
As the car came closer, it stopped right next to their own and Adrian ducked his head. He hoped that the people would think that they weren’t in the car. It was one agonizing moment after another.
How could all of this crazy possibly fit into one day?
He heard the door from the other car open and close. He strained his ears to hear the soft crunch of the snow and then a swipe at the window. Adrian didn’t dare look up until he heard a knock, and if he were being honest, he was scared sh*tless.
A muffled voice and a few more knocks later, Aria whispered, “I don’t think it’s them.”
“Are you sure?”
“No . . . but . . . what if it’s the police?”
She had a point.
Cautiously, Adrian glanced at the window and immediately recognized the ugly bright orange jacket through the frost.
He immediately perked up. “It’s Nick!”
“What? Are you serious?” Aria moved to see. “Holy sh*t, it is!”
In less than a second, Adrian unlocked the door and let the icy air in.
“You took forever, dipsh*t.”
Nick pulled him into a tight hug. “Good to see you too, you f*cker. Do you have any idea what today’s been like? Jesus Christ, Adrian. Wait, is that Mira?”
“We need to get to the hospital. She desperately needs medical attention,” Aria informed him while she unlocked the doors.
“Who did you come with?” Adrian asked.
“Me and Carmen are in the car.” He turned to Aria as he opened the door on Mira’s side, ready to carry her.
“Your dad and Alpha Joel are in the other car searching about ten miles back that way. It was the last signal we received until your watch died.”
“Watch?” Adrian looked at Aria.
“I’m a genius. GPS location baby!” she screamed out into the open air.
Adrian smiled. “Smart girl.”
“Thank you, thank you.” She smiled. “Now let’s get Mira outta here.”
They expected Carmen’s reaction as they neared her car. As she saw the state of her cousin, she panicked, calmed down, then sped like a madman towards the hospital. While
