Page 30 (1/2)

I winced

He wasn’t asking why I went crazy I didn’t think he cared He just wanted to know if I’d be a liability

“I’ll be fine,” I said faintly

“I mean it”

I lifted uard not in place for theI felt his intensity seeping into me

I didn’t like this feeling of being tethered to hiood either

I sed over a knot “I don’t like the name Carrie”

“What?”

“Carrie That’s what you called me back there I don’t like that”

“What do you want to be called then? Girl?”

I kinda liked Girl, but it wouldn’t work anyer work relationship He needed me to live, and I needed him to live

“There was a girl Her nao by Ash”

He stared at hed “Fine Ash”

Good Ash I liked my new name

15

Ash

When we returned to the house, bringing food with us, Raize’s phone chih the front door

“They’re back!” Jake yelled from the kitchen

“About fucking time”

Jake’s se pizza box in my hands “Nice She can read minds”

Cavers grunted, co the box from me He frowned as he looked over my shoulder

I turned to find Raize had stopped back by the door, reading his phone

Cavers’ gazetoday?”

“That’s none of our business,” Jake said before I could, glaring at Cavers, who ignored him as he put the box on the counter and opened it up

Jake continued to glare as he turned to reach for paper plates and napkins on the counter behind hirabbed three slices

We’d had pizza the night before, and this didn’t see now I’d eaten two slices of pizza this et soda, and water forfood I liked from the store, too