Page 38 of PS: I Hate You
With gritted teeth, I loosen my white-knuckle grip on the Rubbermaid container, passing off one eighth of my brother. Then I clutch the stiff envelope, and despite my greed for his words, I’m careful when I tear the flap.
A thought comes to me then, one I can’t believe I didn’t think to ask before. “What did you do with the Delaware letter?” Panic pinches my gut. “You didn’t throw it away, did you?”
Dom frowns. “No. I’d never do that. I put it back with the rest. And they’re all in a fireproof safe in my town house.”
“Oh.” Still, I hesitate. “What’s the combination?”
Dom glares down at me. “Why? Are you planning on sneaking in and taking them?”
I scowl. “Are you planning on holding them hostage from me?”
“Maddie—”
“Dominic,” I snap back. “What if something happens to you? They’re all I have—” My breath stutters and my anger heats, and I’m so furious at this man for witnessing my vulnerability over and over again. And I’m pissed at my brother for being the puppet master behind it all. “They’re all I have left of him,” I grind out. The letters and the ashes.
Dom stands utterly still in front of me, the hand that’s not holding my brother braced on his hip, head bowed enough that I can’t see his expression. Not that I could interpret it. I’ve officially lost my ability to decipher the hidden thoughts of Dominic Perry.
But I refuse to mourn the loss. Maybe I never had the ability. Believing I understood Dom only led me to heartache.
“I’ll change it when I get home,” he says. “And text you the new combination.”
What kind of bullshit offer is that?“No. You’ll tell me the current combinationnow. And anytime you change it from this day forward, you’ll email the new combo to me,” I counter, confused why he’s making this harder than it has to be.
Though one could argue me hoarding my phone number contributes to the difficulty, but I refuse to linger on that thought.
The muscle in Dom’s jaw clenches so hard it stands out in perfect definition. Finally, he grits out a “Fine.” Then he stares toward the sound of falling water. “The combination is—”
“Don’t even think about lying to me,” I cut him off, suspecting the eye contact avoidance is his deception tell. “I’ll call Adam and ask him to check for me. I bet he’d love to snoop through your stuff.”
Dom hits me with a glare. “I’m not about to give you his number when you haven’t even given me yours.”
“I don’t need you to,” I taunt. “I have it. We text. He’s got good GIF game. He keeps me up to date on the hip lingo.” Never thought twenty-six was old, but when it comes to social media jargon, I’m practically ancient.
“Adam has your number?” Dom’s voice is so cold the nearby stream threatens to freeze over.
“Yep. Carter does, too.” And I don’t worry in the slightest that they’ll give it to Dom. I’ve got a friendship with the twins that supersedes their brother. Still, I make a mental note to text them a warning not to share my digits under pain of death. “We’re buddies.And as my buddy, Adam will let me know if you’re lying. So, give me the combo. The real one.”
Dom reaches up to scratch the back of his neck, attention focused on the wooden boards at our feet. Then he mutters a curse and meets my eyes.
“Zero, seven, one, eight.”
“That’s…” My brain trips over the familiar numbers.It can’t be.“You’re fucking with me.”
He shrugs and waves toward the envelope in my hand. “I thought you wanted to read it. Or I can.” Dom reaches for the letter.
Quickly, I turn, blocking him with my shoulder.
“I’ll read it.” And then I’ll text Adam and get him to prove Dom’s a liar.
I slip the piece of paper out and step closer to a hanging lantern to read, swatting away the small bugs that also congregate around the light.
Dear Maddie & Dom,
Welcome to Alabama!
Never thought you’d explore the south, huh, Maddie? But there’s beauty everywhere, and I’m determined for you to find it. Even in the darkest of places.
You should be in Dismals Canyon right about now. Book yourself a night tour—