Chapter 7

The neon hum was the first thing to return to my consciousness, a low, electric buzz that seemed to vibrate through the very bones of the car we’d claimed as our sanctuary. I blinked against the soft, gray light of dawn filtering through the windshield, the condensation from last night’s breath still clinging to the glass in patchy clouds. For a moment, I didn’t remember where I was. I didn’t remember the name of the event, the rush of the crowd, or the way my heart had hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. I only knew the weight of him. He was still asleep, his head resting on my shoulder, one arm heavy and possessive across my waist. I shifted slightly, trying not to disturb the deep, even rhythm of his breathing, but the movement sent a ripple of heat through my limbs. We were parked in the back row of the drive-in, that relic of a bygone era that smelled of stale popcorn, gasoline, and old leather. The giant screen loomed in front of us, dark now, a ghostly white rectangle against the morning sky. The rows of cars around us were silent, mostly empty, save for