“I might have a little bit of battery,” I say. Josh twists to look over the seat at me. I hold up my hands. “Don’t get too excited—I doubt I have much. I was at forty percent before I boarded in California, and I used it on the plane.”

Harper touches Brecken’s shoulder. “We need to pull over. Now.”

Brecken finds a place half a mile up—a turn in for some long-abandoned driveway as far as I can tell. It’s potentially the perfect place to pull out my laptop and charge a phone. And maybe to talk to Harper.

Harper opens her door and I start climbing over.

“I’ll help you get to it,” Brecken says, unbuckling.

“I’ll help,” Josh says, moving to unbuckle.

“No, don’t.” Harper grabs him. “The snow is deep, and you’re on crutches. I’m sure Brecken can do it.”

Panic is running like carbonation through my veins. “I don’t need any help.”

“It’s not a problem,” Brecken says, and he’s already out of the car.

I don’t have a good reason to argue, so I catch Josh’s eyes once. I can see he’s uncomfortable, but what do we do? Accuse him now in the middle of nowhere? There’s no way this ends well if we do it now.

We’re better off charging a phone and calling the police. We can play this game for ten more minutes. The police are our best bet.

I swallow hard and follow Brecken, stepping out into the biting wind. We close the doors, and just like that, we’re alone. The occupants of the car might as well be on another planet. Wind whistles down the mountainside and the snow crunches when I shift my feet. Brecken looks at me across the top of the car and I zip my coat, feeling like his eyes are cutting right through me.

Without a word, I circle to the back and someone pops the hatch from the front. Brecken doesn’t reach to open it. He watches me, unmoving, as fear runs through me like a current. I reach for the lid, and Brecken’s hand shoots out to hold it shut. To stop me.

“What are you doing?” I sound afraid.

“Do you think I hit that kid, Mira?”

I shudder, resisting the urge to take a step back. Pushing against my terror to stay calm. To keep my eyes open like my mom said.

“Why would you ask something like that?”

“Because I can tell you’re afraid of something,” he says, stepping closer. “I just want to know if it’s me.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

I’m six inches deep in snow and zero percent interested in being here with Brecken. I reach for the trunk again and Brecken grabs my wrist. I try to pull away, but he’s got me and he’s strong.