tattooed on his skin. Then my eyes moved to my seat belt. It was secured around my waist.
“My seat belt … ,” I began. “I thought—”
“Thought what?” Patch asked, sounding genuinely interested.
“I thought … I flew out of the car. I literally thought … I was going to die.”
110
“I think that’s the point.”
At my sides, my arms trembled. My knees wobbled slightly under the weight of my body.
“Guess we’re stuck as partners,” said Patch. I suspected a small degree of victory in his voice. I was too stunned to argue.
“The Archangel,” I murmured, looking back over my shoulder at the ride, which had started its next ascent.
“It means high-ranking angel.” There was a definite smugness to his voice. “The higher up, the harder the fall.”
I started to open my mouth, meaning to say again how I was sure I’d left the car for a moment and forces beyond my ability to explain had put me safely back behind my seat belt. Instead I said, “I think I’m more of a guardian angel girl.”
Patch smirked again. Guiding me down the walk, he said, “I’ll take you back to the arcade.”
CHAPTER 9
I CUT THROUGH THE CROWD INSIDE THE ARCADE, PASSING
the concession counter and restrooms. When the foosball tables came 111
into view, Vee wasn’t at any of them. Neither were Elliot or Jules.
“Looks like they left,” Patch said. His eyes might have held a sliver of amusement. Then again, with Patch, it could just as easily have been something entirely different. “Looks like you need a ride.”
“Vee wouldn’t leave me,” I said, standing on my tiptoes to see over the top of the crowd. “They’re probably playing table tennis.”
I edged sideways through the crowd while Patch followed behind, tipping back a can of soda he’d bought on our way in. He’d offered to buy me one, but in my current state, I wasn’t sure I could hold it down.
There was no trace of Vee or Elliot at table tennis.
“Maybe they’re at the pinball machines,” Patch suggested. He was definitely making fun of me.
I felt myself go a little red in the face. Where was Vee?
Patch held out his soda. “Sure you don’t want a drink?”
I looked from the can to Patch. Just because my blood warmed at the thought of putting my mouth where his had been didn’t mean I had to tell him.
I dug through my purse and pulled out my cell. The screen on my phone was black and refused to turn on. I didn’t understand how the battery could be dead when I’d charged it right before I left. I pushed the on button again and again, but nothing happened.
Patch said, “My offer’s still on the table.”
I thought I’d be safer hitching a ride from a stranger. I was still shaken 112
over what had happened on the Archangel, and no matter how many times I tried to flush it out, the image of falling repeated through my head. I was falling … and then the ride was over. Just like that. It was the most terrifying thing I’d ever been through. Almost as terrifying, I was the only one who’d seemed to notice. Not even Patch, who’d been right beside me.
I smacked my palm to my forehead. “Her car . She’s probably waiting for me in the parking lot.”
Thirty minutes later I’d canvassed the entire lot. The Neon was gone. I couldn’t believe Vee had left without me. Maybe there’d been an emergency. I had no way of knowing, since I couldn’t check the messages on my cell. I tried to hold my emotions in check, but if she had left me, I had an ample amount of anger simmering under the surface, ready to spill out.
“Out of options yet?” asked Patch.
I bit my lip, pondering my other options. I had no other options.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure I was ready to take Patch up on his offer. On an ordinary day he exuded danger. Tonight there was a potent mix of danger, threat, and mystery all thrown together.
Finally I blew out a sigh and prayed I wasn’t about to make a mistake.
“You’ll take me straight home,”
“My seat belt … ,” I began. “I thought—”
“Thought what?” Patch asked, sounding genuinely interested.
“I thought … I flew out of the car. I literally thought … I was going to die.”
110
“I think that’s the point.”
At my sides, my arms trembled. My knees wobbled slightly under the weight of my body.
“Guess we’re stuck as partners,” said Patch. I suspected a small degree of victory in his voice. I was too stunned to argue.
“The Archangel,” I murmured, looking back over my shoulder at the ride, which had started its next ascent.
“It means high-ranking angel.” There was a definite smugness to his voice. “The higher up, the harder the fall.”
I started to open my mouth, meaning to say again how I was sure I’d left the car for a moment and forces beyond my ability to explain had put me safely back behind my seat belt. Instead I said, “I think I’m more of a guardian angel girl.”
Patch smirked again. Guiding me down the walk, he said, “I’ll take you back to the arcade.”
CHAPTER 9
I CUT THROUGH THE CROWD INSIDE THE ARCADE, PASSING
the concession counter and restrooms. When the foosball tables came 111
into view, Vee wasn’t at any of them. Neither were Elliot or Jules.
“Looks like they left,” Patch said. His eyes might have held a sliver of amusement. Then again, with Patch, it could just as easily have been something entirely different. “Looks like you need a ride.”
“Vee wouldn’t leave me,” I said, standing on my tiptoes to see over the top of the crowd. “They’re probably playing table tennis.”
I edged sideways through the crowd while Patch followed behind, tipping back a can of soda he’d bought on our way in. He’d offered to buy me one, but in my current state, I wasn’t sure I could hold it down.
There was no trace of Vee or Elliot at table tennis.
“Maybe they’re at the pinball machines,” Patch suggested. He was definitely making fun of me.
I felt myself go a little red in the face. Where was Vee?
Patch held out his soda. “Sure you don’t want a drink?”
I looked from the can to Patch. Just because my blood warmed at the thought of putting my mouth where his had been didn’t mean I had to tell him.
I dug through my purse and pulled out my cell. The screen on my phone was black and refused to turn on. I didn’t understand how the battery could be dead when I’d charged it right before I left. I pushed the on button again and again, but nothing happened.
Patch said, “My offer’s still on the table.”
I thought I’d be safer hitching a ride from a stranger. I was still shaken 112
over what had happened on the Archangel, and no matter how many times I tried to flush it out, the image of falling repeated through my head. I was falling … and then the ride was over. Just like that. It was the most terrifying thing I’d ever been through. Almost as terrifying, I was the only one who’d seemed to notice. Not even Patch, who’d been right beside me.
I smacked my palm to my forehead. “Her car . She’s probably waiting for me in the parking lot.”
Thirty minutes later I’d canvassed the entire lot. The Neon was gone. I couldn’t believe Vee had left without me. Maybe there’d been an emergency. I had no way of knowing, since I couldn’t check the messages on my cell. I tried to hold my emotions in check, but if she had left me, I had an ample amount of anger simmering under the surface, ready to spill out.
“Out of options yet?” asked Patch.
I bit my lip, pondering my other options. I had no other options.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure I was ready to take Patch up on his offer. On an ordinary day he exuded danger. Tonight there was a potent mix of danger, threat, and mystery all thrown together.
Finally I blew out a sigh and prayed I wasn’t about to make a mistake.
“You’ll take me straight home,”
Similar Books
