“You told me the guy’s name. I Googled Jonathan Cromwell, and found out he’s the mayor. So I asked for directions at the gas station over on some hick road named Patterson,” he explained, clearly proud of his investigative skills. “Anyway, this is what friends do. They watch out for each other. Mom will just have to suck it. She can’t ground me forever.”
“Oh, Adam,” I whispered, and then inhaled deeply. The scent of detergent and familiarity washed over me. Sandbox love—nothing was stronger.
“Em, something is wrong with all of this. You can tell me you’re okay all you want. I know you’re not.”
I wasn’t okay. “It’s complicated.”
His brows went up and his glasses slipped further down his noise. “Try me. Some say I’m smart. I just may understand.”
“Adam, I just don’t know how to explain this. I’m not even—”
“Ember, step back now.”
The authority alone in Cromwell’s voice forced me away from Adam. Except Adam didn’t recognize the tone, or he just didn’t care. Because he knew I didn’t like to be touched, when Adam stopped me, he grabbed my sweater-covered arm.
“Who is that?” His eyes were glued above my head.
“Uh, that’s Mr. Cromwell. Adam, you should probably—”
Adam frowned. “The mayor is that young?”
“Huh?” I turned around and froze. I hadn’t mistaken the voice. Cromwell stood on the porch, but it was Hayden whom Adam was staring at. “No… that isn’t the mayor.”
“Ember, what’s going on?” Cromwell came striding down the steps.
Adam dropped my arm and stepped in front of me. “My name is Adam Lewis. I’m Ember’s friend.”
I should’ve been paying attention. Instead, I stared at Hayden. Gone was the strangely compassionate boy who had stood next to me in the doorway. In his place was someone who was as hard and cold as one of those statues inside.
“Adam,” I whispered. “You should probably leave.”
He snorted. “I’m not leaving. Shouldn’t he invite me in? He is the mayor. Shouldn’t he be friendly and inviting?”
“Adam, that isn’t—” I stopped. The cowboy was here—Kurt. Like a tumbleweed, he had come out of nowhere.
Cromwell smiled. “How did you find your way here, Adam?”
“The internet,” he responded dryly. “So you’re a friend of Ember’s family? That’s kind of funny since I’ve known her forever, and she’s never once mentioned you.”
“Adam, please—”
Kurt propped himself against the hood of Mrs. Lewis’ car. “She obviously told him where she was, Jonathan.”
“Get off my mom’s car, man. I get a dent in the hood, I’m dead.”
Kurt grinned.
“Does your mother know where you are, young man?” Cromwell asked.
“Who wants to know?” Adam was frowning at Kurt.
“He knows too much, Jonathan.” Kurt pushed off the car.
“What?” My heart thrummed. “He doesn’t know anything.”
“I know enough,” Adam cut in. “Enough to know you’re all a bunch of freaks living in the middle of nowhere.”
“Adam, shut up!” I yelled.
His gaze flickered at me as he started digging in his pocket. He pulled out his cell. “Em, is Olivia really here? I’m calling the police.”