CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
April felt wonderful. She knew that Joel had added something to the pot in the bong, and she was glad that he had. When she felt like this, she didn’t have to worry about school or Mom or anything. She didn’t have to remember being caught and held in a cage. She didn’t have to think about helping her mom kill the guy who had held her. She knew she could trust Joel to take care of her.
He passed her the bong again.
They were in his car, parked deep in the woods, an out of the way place where no one would bother them.
“You know I really like you,” Joel said. His words seemed to reverberate as he spoke.
“In fact,” he said, turning to look her in the face, “April, I’m in love with you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered back. It was the first time she’d said that to a boy.
