Starry Eyes(90)

“Our phones died,” I argue, but all I’m thinking about is that phone conversation with Mom at the ranger station three days ago. She knew!

“—and I guess the last time your mom had heard from you, you told her you’d be here at the star party yesterday, so he was freaking out. And Dr. Viramontes asked me if I knew anything, because your dad was going to call the police and file a missing persons report. And so . . .” She squeezes her eyes shut. “I told him what you texted me a couple days ago. That you were hiking here with Lennon. That you were supposed to arrive yesterday.”

“Oh, God,” I mumble.

“Dr. Viramontes called your dad back and told him. And he assured your dad that we would call when you guys got here. But you didn’t show up last night—”

“We were just running late!” I say, exasperated.

She nods, glancing at Lennon, who is biting out filthy curses under his breath.

“What happened?” I ask.

“I just overheard a few things,” she says. “Your dad is loud when he’s angry. He was saying stuff about the Mackenzies, and how they allowed Lennon to kidnap you.”

“What?” I say, pressing my hands against my temples.

“And I tried to butt in and defend you, Lennon,” she says, glancing over her shoulder again. “But Mr. Everhart is . . . well, he yelled at me, and accused me of aiding and abetting—”

“Oh, for the love of Pete,” I say. “Wait, wait, wait. You said you overheard . . . you said he yelled at you. On the phone?”

Avani bites her lip and shakes her head. “I’m so sorry, Zorie. I texted and called to warn you a couple hours ago, but you didn’t answer.”

And that’s when I look in the direction she’s been glancing. The door to an RV swings open, and three people file outside. Dr. Viramontes is the first. And behind him are my parents.





25




* * *



“Zorie!” my mom shouts from across the campsite, relief in her voice. She rushes ahead of the men and throws her arms around me. “You’re all right.”

“Mom . . . ,” I say, hoping the right words will come out, but I’m stuck between her concern and the shit storm that’s approaching.

She pulls back and holds my face. “You’re fine.”

“I’m fine.”

She moves one of her hands to Lennon’s face. “You’re okay too?”

He nods. His expression is taut.

“What in God’s name is going on?” my father roars over my mother’s shoulder. He’s not talking to me. He doesn’t even give me anything but a cursory look. His eyes are on Lennon, and he pushes my mom aside to get in Lennon’s face. “You snatch my daughter away and take her into the woods?”

“I didn’t snatch anything,” Lennon says, eyes narrowing.

“I asked him to take me,” I tell my dad. “Reagan left us. She was our transportation home. And Lennon knows the park—”

“I don’t give a damn,” my dad says. “Reagan came home five days ago. Five days! You’ve been alone in the wilderness with my daughter—my daughter,” he shouts at Lennon.

“Dan,” my mom says, trying to pull him away from Lennon.

Dr. Viramontes clears his throat. “Zorie, I’m glad to see you and Mr. Mackenzie are well.”

“There was never anything to worry about,” I say, giving him a tight smile. “I’m sorry you were dragged into this.”

He shakes his head. “I’m just glad you’re all right. I invited you here, so I feel responsible.”

“Damn right, you’re responsible,” my dad snaps. “These are underage kids.”

“I find that most of our club members are smart, self-aware individuals who don’t need a babysitter.”

My dad snorts. “Then you’re obviously not a parent, because these kids don’t know their asses from their faces.”

Dr. Viramontes holds up his hands in surrender. “I told you before, I’m not going to fight with you. Since my club member is seemingly unharmed and accounted for, I will leave you to sort this out among yourselves. I just ask that you don’t upset the other campers. We’re here to witness nature, not disturb it.” Dr. Viramontes glances at me, a look of pity on his face, before he turns to walk away.

My mom gently inserts herself between Lennon and my dad. “Let’s talk about this civilly.”

“The time for being civil has passed,” Dad says.

Something snaps inside my head. I glance back, making sure Dr. Viramontes in out of earshot, and then I turn to my father.

“It absolutely has,” I tell him. “It passed when you threatened Lennon last fall in that hotel. Yeah, that’s right. I know. I know everything.”

“What hotel?” Mom says.

Something close to rage passes over my father’s features. “Oh, really? Did he tell you that I caught him trying to use a stolen credit card and that he took a swing at me?”

“Yeah, and that’s the bruise you told Mom and me that you’d gotten at a construction site,” I shout. “You lied about that. You lied about Lennon. Instead of telling his parents, you took it upon yourself to administer justice that you had no right doing.”