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I e the door behind me with a clap of my palms “Ready”

Lark holds up a hand, stopping me before I can step off the small patio in front of the room “No, you’re not You’ll be ready as soon as you turn around and close your eyes”

I frown “Why do I—”

“Seriously, Mason,” she cuts in “Tonight is about following directions, and so far, you stink at it” She props her fists on her hips, drawing ht hand

A blindfold?

It has to be Why else would she want me to close my eyes?

I hesitate I don’t like surprises When you grow up never knowing if there will be food in the fridge, you learn to appreciate routine Afternoons spent pacing the carpet inside our trailer after school, wondering iffor the weekend hatever loser she was dating, leaving h to reach the kitchen cabinets, soured e

I like routine

I like predictable things and predictable people

It’s one of the reasons I fell so hard and fast for Lark She’s silly and playful when it comes to jokes and conversation, but in her real, day-to-day life she’s a creature of habit She has a routine and she sticks to it religiously She has a h standards for herself, and there’s rarely any doubt how she’ll respond in a given situation

At least, that’s how Lark used to be

But now…

“Where are we going that I need to be blindfolded?” I ask, doing my best to keep my reservations out of my tone

“We’re going wherever I want to go,” she says “I’ht Can you handle that, Mason? Or should I go home alone?”

I don’t say a word I si my knees a little to make it easier for her to reach ly over my face

I’o anywhere alone I want to spend as much ti for part of it

“How’s that?” she asks, sht?”

I shake ood”

It isn’t good I’ blindfolded, either, but it’s clearly so a blindfold and obeying orders is what it takes to regain her trust, then I’ll do it