A year ago, he would have understood her disbelief. A year ago, he would have laughed at the prospect of taking Venus Upton anywhere—let alone on a date. As his girlfriend. But everything had changed after that horrific night at the mansion. Apparently, surviving the clutches of a serial killer was a great way to pick up girls. Venus had been one of many who'd rediscovered his existence that dreary spring. The whole thing had been quite mortifying at first: the whispers, the stares, the admiration. As if he were a hero for stabbing their classmate in the back. A hero—and not a murderer. He stared down at his phone. Are we still on for tonight? she'd asked. His face heated as he thought of their last rendezvous in his car. "He's blushing," Calla deadpanned. "How adorable." Coope

