Experiment in Terror 06 Into the Hollow by Karina Halle Read Free Book Online Page B

forced attention, a distraction from reality, until reality bit me in the form of Ada. Her texts came through in a frantic succession and though I knew she understood deep down, I could imagine how hurt she was that I left without saying goodbye. Then the phone calls from my parents came and I quickly turned off my phone before they had a chance to really get to me. I needed to know I was making the right choice and in that car, packed to the brim with my belongings, with my life, I still didn’t know.
    We were just outside of Olympia when Dex asked, “Can we talk about it?”
    I had this cold feeling, like someone deposited a chunk of ice in my gut. I didn’t want to clarify what he meant, but my mouth was faster than my heart.
    “Talk about what?”
    A heady silence filled the car, heavy like a sandbag. I picked at my nails and waited. I knew this wasn’t going to be some random question. Wasn’t there a theory about the size of a pause after someone asks you a question or a favor? The greater the pause, the greater the favor. Maybe that was all Jerry Seinfeld.
    He sighed softly and steadied his grip on the wheel.
    “I don’t even know where to start.”
    “Well if there’s more than one thing, I’d rather we didn’t talk about it,” I mumbled, watching the pavement roll past. Lord knows I had a million things I wanted to ask him: How come you look better after everything I’d gone through? Why did I have to suffer after you left me, and you’re looking and acting like a modern day Adonis? When am I going to stop being mad at you?
    He tugged the front of his cap down, so that his eyes were covered in shadow.
    The pause amplified. If anticipation was a breathing, living thing, it would have popped out the windows and made a run for it.
    He kept his gaze locked on the cars in front of us and said in a low voice, “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”
    I had a feeling that was the question. Ever since my mom brought it up earlier, pointed like a spear, I knew Dex had been stuck on it.
    But I still wasn’t ready for it.
    I took in a deep breath. “I didn’t know until it was too late.”
    “Perry…”
    “It’s true,” I said angrily.
    He bit his lip, keeping his eyes hidden. “Would you have told me anyway?”
    I shook my head. “No.”
    “That’s not fair-“
    “That’s not fair?!” I exploded. He winced and tightened his grip on the wheel. “Don’t you dare tell me what’s not fair! Do you think I wanted to be fucking pregnant! If I had found out earlier, I would have gotten rid of it. I would have gotten rid of anything that had something to do with you!”
    Dex lifted his head up, like I had just slapped him in the face. His eyes prickled with clarity. He was stunned.
    I felt bad but it didn’t stop me from continuing, my feelings rumbling out like an overdue avalanche. “You ended things. You fucked up and you ruined me and I owe you nothing! You have no right to know what was going on in my life. You have no business in it. You have nothing!”
    “I had a right,” he protested, words gravely and barely above a whisper.
    “You had no -“
    “That was my baby too!” he yelled, his body shaking with the force. He yelled it with such acute pain and intensity that I jumped in my seat. I shut my mouth, feeling stupid and embarrassed and very small.
    A few moments passed as his words sank into the atmosphere, making the air even heavier than before. I squirmed, wondering if I had made a huge mistake by going with him. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who was mad about things, but I still felt I was the only one who had a reason.
    I could feel his head turn toward me, watching me.
    “You’re not the only one with a reason to be mad, Perry,” he said, struggling to keep his voice calm.
    I shivered and eyed him incredulously. “What?”
    “Nevermind,” he said with a shake of his head. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
    It did matter and it would matter for a long time. But