Chapter 28 #2
Vaanya had probably still gone on her weekend trip to Nantucket.
Jake was probably doing his own thing in Storrs.
Caitlin was probably busy moving apartments.
Marcus had family visiting . . . Maybe they missed me.
Maybe they had shared news of my abduction in the group chat and talked about it for a day.
Then moved on.
The moment that Jude held a rag to my nose and mouth to make me pass out had made my life flash before my eyes.
It was supposed to be the moment I realized what a full and wonderful life I had. Not an epiphany that I meant very little to everyone around me, no matter how much I tried to matter to them and care for them.
Jude pulled into the cracked-asphalt lot of a Dollar General and cut the engine. “When we go in, be polite but not chatty. Neutral. Not memorable. Don’t look nervous. Walk in like you’re supposed to be there. If you act like you’re trying to hide, people will get suspicious.”
“Right. Don’t be too much. Got it.”
I reached for the door, but Jude stretched across and caught my hand before I could get it open. “I don’t want to tell you how you should feel about me, but when we go in there, I need you to act like you like me. We’ve been all over the news. If you act scared of me, someone will figure it out.”
“I don’t have to pretend to like you. Far from it,” I said as I squeezed his hand, then hopped out of the truck and stole a glance in the mirror to see if my poker face was on.
These days, even I couldn’t tell.
Jude locked the truck and met me on the sidewalk. I reached out for his hand, but he didn’t take mine. “It can’t look like I’m controlling you,” he said as we walked through the sliding doors.
“Right.” The whispered word pushed past my lips of its own free will.
The cashier was busy stocking shelves full of sunscreen and bug spray and paid us no mind as we casually strolled to the hair-care aisle.
“So you really weren’t kidding,” I said when Jude picked out a box of black men’s hair dye.
“It’s just hair. Change it and you become someone else.” There was an edge to his voice. Something like . . . disdain.
I twirled the end of my hair around my finger as I studied the options. I didn’t want to dye my hair. Joel and I had gotten most of our dad’s features. But our hair? That was all Mom.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and reached for a box of dark brown. I had never dyed my hair before. Was one box enough? Did I need two? Were there other supplies I was supposed to get?
Jude intercepted me before I could grab the box. “Do something a little lighter. Not as drastic.”
“Why? If I’m not supposed to look like myself, then—”
“It shouldn’t look like you’re wearing a wig,” Jude said. “Just enough of a difference from what’s on TV to make people doubt themselves.” He picked up a shade that was somewhere between dark blonde and a warm light brown. Like rich caramel. It wasn’t too far off from what my hair was now.
The knot in my throat eased just a little.
“It’ll make your eyes look extra blue,” Jude said softly.
I followed him around like a lost puppy as he grabbed a few necessities for the cabin and a bag of sour gummy worms for morale.
The double doors slid open, and another young couple—hikers from the smell of it—strolled in as Jude and I made our way to the register.
The woman glanced at me as she passed by, then paused and did a double take.
Act normal. Don’t be memorable. I’m supposed to be here. I smiled at her politely, then looked at the register as we waited for the cashier.
Her brows furrowed as she stared at me.
“Oh my god,” I said to Jude, just loud enough for her to hear. “We forgot popcorn. That was the whole reason we stopped.”
He played along immediately. “I’ll go grab some,” he said with an easygoing chuckle.
I was about to say I could go get it when Jude kissed my temple and walked off, leaving me alone.
I wasn’t in any danger, but the thought of being separated from him was utterly terrifying. I looked over my shoulder at the cashier, who was no closer to coming to check us out than when we had gotten to the register.
The woman’s partner grabbed a basket and peeled off, but she headed right toward me.
Her voice was soothing, like she was carefully approaching a wounded animal.
“I hope this isn’t offensive, but are you safe?
” She seemed genuinely concerned. “It’s just—you look exactly like this woman who went missing a week ago.
” She studied my face, and instead of hiding away, I let her look. “Are you Amelia Hawthorne?”
I let out a light laugh. “You have no idea how many times I’ve heard that this week! She must be my doppelg?nger. I hope they find her soon. What happened to her was so scary.”
The woman looked just as uncomfortable as she looked relieved. Honestly, I felt bad. She was truly doing something good, sticking her neck out for me. I glanced in the direction Jude had gone and saw him in conversation with the guy who had come in with this woman.
They’re keeping us apart on purpose.
Shit.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be awkward. I just—her picture has been everywhere, and you look just like her.”
I waved it off. “If my opinion counts for anything, a little awkwardness is okay. I think the world needs more people who are willing to be uncomfortable to make sure someone else is okay. Someday, someone might need a person like you to step in for them.” I smiled.
“I’m good, though.” I made a show of looking for Jude.
“As long as he gets kettle corn and not movie theater butter.” I stuck out my tongue, pretended to gag, and went all in on the fact that Jude had stalked me really well.
The woman laughed, like she was in on what seemed to be an inside joke in a totally normal relationship.
The cashier finally loped behind the register and punched a few buttons to get it running just as Jude peeled away from the guy and beelined for me.
“Sorry,” he said with a sheepish smile as he dropped the box of microwave popcorn onto the counter. “Took me a minute to find the kettle corn.”
Jackpot.
Seemingly satisfied with the story we’d told, the woman offered a polite, “Have a good one,” and hurried off to meet up with her man.
I started getting antsy as the cashier slowly counted out the change. I took the coins while Jude grabbed the bags and headed to the truck.
The moment we were in the privacy of the cab, Jude looked at me. “Are we in trouble?”
The couple had made it back to the register with their few items and were staring out the glass doors at the truck.
“Yep,” I said as I buckled up. “We got made.”
Adrenaline began to simmer inside of me as Jude pulled out of the lot. But instead of mixing with fear the way it had when Jude first abducted me, it swirled with something else.
Determination.
We were going to get away with this . . . or we were going to die trying.