“I said nothing.”
“You’re glowing with opinions.”
“They are very good opinions.”
“Keep them hostage.”
Amelia steps into the room and touches August’s hair. “We’re only staying a little while.”
The way she says it’s for him.
Also for me.
Also for herself.
I nod. “Yeah.”
August looks up. “How long is little?”
Nobody answers.
Because adults are liars and children know it.
Sophie saves us by clapping her hands once. “All right. First order. We unpack only what is needed. Second, groceries. Third, phone. Fourth, we decide how public Amelia and Derby need to be before Jeremy tells half the state she was kidnapped by Satan’s motorcycle cousins.”
Amelia looks at her. “That sounds like something he would say.”
“Then we make sure nobody believes him first.”
My stomach tightens because I know where this is going.
I step into the hall. “We just got here.”
Sophie follows. “Yes.”
“She needs a minute.”
“She needs several. Unfortunately, Jeremy is already moving.”
Amelia comes out behind us, August occupied on the bed with his dinosaur.
“What does that mean?” she asks.
Sophie looks at me, then at her. “It means hiding helps him if he uses it right. He will say you are being kept somewhere. He will say you are isolated. He will say Derby manipulated you or the club took you.”
I snort. “I ain’t charming enough to manipulate anyone before noon.”
Amelia gives me a look. “You are barely charming enough after noon.”
I grin before I can stop myself.
Sophie’s eyes bounce between us and sharpen with interest.
I stop grinning.
Too late.
Sophie says, “The point is, Jeremy wants to tell a story where you are unstable, trapped, and surrounded by criminals. We need another story.”