Somewhere Between Water and Sky (Shattered Things #2) (14 page)

“
Oh.
”

“
Yeah. We started dating at seventeen, and everyone thought we were perfect for each other
—
he put me back together in a way. I didn
’
t have to worry about being good enough for my dad because I was good enough for Ren. And then he broke up with me out of the blue. Said I was toxic and couldn
’
t handle the parties.
”
Her face clouds over.
“
I didn
’
t take it very well.
”

“
What happened?
”

“
We can do some pretty shitty things to people we love.
”
She moves her arm over her head and covers her eyes with the crook of her elbow.
“
I went to a party one night knowing he would be there. I made a big show of how happy I was, how I didn
’
t need him, how I was fine without him. Got drunk and did a strip tease on the table.
”
She peeks her eyes out from under her arm and a small smile plays on her lips.

“
And then I left, slashing his tires and keying the side of his Jeep.
”

I chuckle.
“
Hell hath no fury.
”

She sits up.
“
Oh it just got worse. He sent me pictures with his new girlfriends at places that had been special to us. I texted him random escapades with strangers. He filed a restraining order against me. I got deeper into parties, becoming one of those cage-dancers for the really big parties here in town. Then he left for New York for a few months to film a mini-series and I just fell apart. I didn
’
t know how to live without him near me.
”

“
That
’
s fucked up.
”

“
That
’
s
normal.
I had this amazing therapist for a father who lifted all of these people out of their darkness but no one was there to help me out of mine. So I kept falling.
”
She shrugs.
“
When I took that Ecstasy, I knew what would happen. The dealer was notorious for potent batches. I just needed an escape from this
…”
she points to her forehead.

I nod. I know that feeling. I think back to the pill bottle on my nightstand back home. Jessa clears her throat and continues.

“
Anyway. Ren flipped. He thought I did it as one last chance to grab his attention. Said I was twisted and manipulative. I think in a way he was right
—
that I was desperate for attention. But I don
’
t think he was the sole target.
”

I blink.
“
So how did you get here? What happened next?
”

She studies me.
“
Many hours of therapy. Lots of gym time.
”
She looks away, her eyes unfocused and in a completely different world than where we are now.

“
And eventually, cutting off all contact with Ren. I realized in the midst of all this drama that he was right
—
our relationship was just toxic. We
both
were
—
we were like moths to the flame with each other. Every time we got close we left the other burned.
”

She looks down and fingers the hem of her shirt.
“
We didn
’
t talk for two years. It was the longest two years of my life but also the most healing. I found out who I was, you know? I didn
’
t need my dad or some boy to tell me.
”
She moves her shoulders and wags her eyebrows up and down.
“
Is this where I break into a Beyonce song? Cause I totally can.
”

I laugh.

“
I
’
m being serious.
”

“
I can tell.
”

“
I woke up like this.
”

Holy hell.

I roll my eyes and divert her with a question.

“
So how did you two get back to where you are now, though?
”

“
He groveled.
”

I slap at her leg and she giggles.
“
I
’
m only slightly joking. My dad and I came to an understanding during those years of therapy. He knows I don
’
t have any desire to go into psychology or sociology or anything related to what he does. We
’
re actually pretty close now. And Ren? Well. He realized how much of an ass he was and how he broke my heart for no good reason other than the perpetual boner he had for the female species. So he did this really sweet candlelit dinner on the beach where he apologized and uttered his undying love for me. It was very happily ever after.
”

I gag.

“
Oh don
’
t worry. We still want to strangle each other on the regular.
”

We go silent for a minute and then she looks at me.

“
Is this where I start singing Avril Lavigne?
”

I throw a pillow at her and hit her square in the face. She doesn
’
t even miss a beat.

“
So how about it, fucked up Stephanie? Will you be my friend? I promise to be just as fucked up as you.
”
She bats her eyelashes.

“
Check yes.
”
I say. Jessa just falls on her back and throws her arms up toward the ceiling and squeals. When she
’
s done, she sits back up and stares at me with a goofy smile. I stare back.

“
Does this mean I get my friendship bracelet now?
”

Chapter Seven

Jessa hasn
’
t convinced me to leave the hotel room yet, but she did convince me to eat. We ordered from a Chinese take-out place down the street and after she got back from picking it up, we spread it out on the bed. The scent of pork fried rice, General Tso chicken, snow peas, pot stickers and mushroom and leek wontons fill the air. My stomach growls.

“
I am so hungry right now.
”

Jessa laughs between bites of rice.
“
You think? When
’
s the last time you ate?
”

I pick up a pot sticker and pause.
“
I really can
’
t remember. It might have been the pizza place in San Diego.
”

Her jaw slackens.
“
I would have cut a bitch already.
”

I laugh as I lick my thumbs. She points at me.
“
You think I
’
m kidding. I apologize in advance for anything I may say while hangry.
”

She stabs her fork in the snow pea leaves and clears her throat.

“
So.
”

I glance up at her in between bites of pork and vegetables.
“
So.
”
I echo.

“
While I was out getting food, I got a phone call from the guy who
’
s investigating that kid at the building.
”

I put my fork down and curl my fingers around my knees.

Damn shaking.

She watches me for a second.

“
He wants us to come in to give a statement.
”

My eyes widen.

“
But
…
I thought you guys talked with them back at the hotel?
”

She shakes her head.

“
Remember? The building almost blew up?
”
She tilts her head.
“
Have you seen anything on the news about it? They
’
ve had some coverage off and on of the case. Apparently it
’
s a big deal.
”

I shake my head.
“
I haven
’
t watched TV in days.
”

She takes a bite of a pot sticker and picks off the piece of lettuce that fell on her shirt.

“
Oh. Okay. So, we totally walked into this human trafficking plot. Crazy, huh?
”

I push my food away, no longer hungry.

“
Crazy.
”
I whisper.

Shit. Shit shit shit.

She nods.
“
Right? So, they caught the kid
—
Oliver? And he squealed. These guys really did beat him up pretty good, but then told him they
’
d pay him this god-awful amount of cash if he helped them out with this plan they had. That building we found
…”

“
The building
you
found
…”
I correct her.

She laughs.
“
Yes. The building
I
found is actually a really popular place for prostitutes to go and uh
…”
she raises her eyebrows.
“
You know.
”

I swallow.

“
Yeah.
”

“
So these guys left Oliver there for a few hours hoping that someone
—
a druggie, a prostitute, kids looking for a hangout spot
—
would come and find him, get into his story, and then get brought into the fold. I still don
’
t understand how they think it would have worked. I mean, did they think people wouldn
’
t call the police?
”

I wouldn
’
t.

“
Huh.
”

“
Don
’
t you get it? We totally could have been kidnapped.
”
She smiles and brings the top her hands up to either side of her chin, resting it in her fingers.

“
I told Ren he was our knight in shining armor.
”

I snort.
“
Because he called the cops?
”

“
They found their getaway car stashed in the woods, Stephanie. There was rope and tape in the trunk. Enough to tie up multiple people.
”
A slow grin spreads across her face.
“
We could totally be in a movie one day.
”

I wipe my nose with one of the napkins and move to get off the bed. I
’
m anxious. Nervous energy begins to flow through my veins.

“
I can
’
t eat anymore.
”

“
Oh I know, I
’
m
stuffed.
”
She closes the containers and wraps them in her arms, stepping off the bed and walking toward the fridge. I make my way to the bathroom and lean against the counter, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

Just breathe, Stephanie. Just breathe.

I can feel the thrumming of my heartbeat in the nail beds of my fingers and behind my eyes.

Jessa calls from around the corner.

“
So? Should we make our way to the station?
”

I drop my elbows onto the granite and rest my forehead in my hands.

“
I don
’
t understand why they need our statement if they already know what happened.
”

I hear her lean against the frame of the door.

“
I don
’
t know. Hey. You sure you
’
re okay? You look pale.
”