When they finally stopped, Emma cleared her throat and felt her smile fade. “Mads, I am here for you. I’m sorry if . . . if it seemed like I wasn’t before.”

Madeline stood and reached a hand out to grab Emma’s. “I’m glad I told you.”

“I’m glad you did, too,” Emma said, giving Sutton’s friend—and her friend—a hug. “We’re going to figure out a way to make this better,” she said. “I promise.”

Lights swirled around them as they emerged into the ballroom once more. Madeline headed for the dance floor; Emma said she’d catch up with her in a minute after she got some punch. She scanned the room for the Twitter Twins, her heart jumping when she didn’t immediately see them. As she walked toward the drinks table, a hand gripped her shoulder and spun her around. Dark eyes stared down on her. In the dim, orangey light, Emma could make out two faint Viking horns on the figure’s head.

“We need to talk,” Garrett growled. And then he pulled Emma into a supply closet before anyone could see that she was gone.

Chapter 24 - Almost, But Not Quite

Chapter 24
The Viking’s Revenge

Garrett slammed the closet door. It took a moment for Emma’s eyes to adjust to the dim light. Above her head was a bin of red rubber dodgeballs. To her left were soccer nets, field hockey pinnies, and extra lacrosse sticks. The tiny room smelled stale, as though it had been closed up for a while. The brightest things in the room were Garrett’s Viking horns, which gave off an eerie, iridescent glow.

“What do you want?” Emma asked, trying not to get too freaked. This was just Garrett, after all. He was harmless . . . wasn’t he?

All of a sudden, crammed into a dark closet and focusing on the white of Garrett’s bared teeth, even I wasn’t so sure.

“I just need to ask you something, okay?” Garrett’s voice was wound tight. He took another step toward Emma, nearly pinning her against the shelving unit behind her. “What’s this I hear about you hanging out with another guy already?”

“W-what?” Emma stammered.

“Don’t lie to me.” Garrett clamped a hand around Emma’s wrist. “I’ve heard all about it. Who is he?”

He sounded so certain, so sure of himself. Someone had told him about Ethan. “Who’d you hear that from? Nisha?”

“So it’s true, then?” Garrett’s breath smelled yeasty-sweet, like beer.

Emma turned away. “It’s none of your business.”