“What did you do with your baby?”
Pain sears across my temples.
The circle gasps. A few students glance at each other, not knowing where to look. Someone swats Aiden’s arm, like that could undo the question. Even the next game over falls silent.
Hold it together, Ashlyn. Don’t blink. Don’t breathe. Don’t give him what he wants.
Smile. Slowly. Like nothing touched you. Like your lips aren’t trembling with rot.
“That’s your question?” My voice slices clean through the air. “I thought you would’ve chosen something wiser.”
Swallowing, I trynotto envision what I almost say. Actively shove the images from my mind.
A shovel.
The weight of dirt.
Grass under my knees.
My lungs ripped open from screaming into the cold silence.
My heart scraped out of my chest, bleeding onto the ground.
No. No. No.
Push that shit down.
With a shrug, I lift my chin and announce, “I buried him. Your turn.”
Everyone around the circle glances at each other, but they hold in a collective breath. The air intensifies between Asshole and me.
He snorts a laugh as if what I’ve told him brought him joy. Self-satisfied and smug, he tilts his head and says, “Dare.”
Oh, Aiden. You’re so predictable.
Now. Aiden Cardell isn’t afraid of anything. Nothing except deep feelings. And I know that I’m the harbinger of emotions. Negative or otherwise. It’s a gift. Also, a curse.
He told me on Red Night that I was a one-time deal. To not get addicted. He’ll doanydare I tell him…in front of everyone. All in an attempt to humiliate me. Degrade me. Abuse me the way he thinks he should.
ButIknow what would get him to refuse…and then I’ll be the ringleader, escorting him to the main show and forcing him to obey me.
“Okay. Idareyou to play Seven Minutes in Heaven with me.”
A dark shadow crosses his face as he flinches.Got him.
Alone and together? I’m not sure he’ll be able to handle it. If he says no? I win. If he comes into the closet…I win.
He glances over his shoulder toward the shed. My nerves bubble up into my throat until I almost yell at him to make a fucking choice, but then he turns back to me with a smile.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
“First one out—” I say, but he cuts me off as he stands up.
“Loses.”
His presence is like death lording over me. And I welcome it.
Every inch closer to the shed tightens a noose around my neck. Sweat pearls along my hairline, and I sip in deep breaths to steady my pulse. My heart thunders harder, louder, faster, like it’s trying to escape my chest.