Austin and Simon leave. Minutes later, Hank walks in. His posture is tight. Tension trails him around the room as he paces back and forth. I watch and wait for him to say something, but he just paces faster. I look around the room and notice there are no books in here. Major disappointment.
“Do you not have any books, Hank?”
He looks at me like an afterthought. “Closet.”
I hop off his bed. I take his answer as permission to search. I open his closet and find my reward. He’s got shelf after shelf of nothing but books. I turn around to look at him. “Have you read all these books?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Not a one. I like to buy them, and look at them, but I don’t like to read them.” Weird. Knowing these books are sitting here and waiting to be read is almost a crime.
“Did you ever consider donating them to a library or a school, so someone else could read them?”
“No.” His pacing slows. I think he’s calming down.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“What?”
I sigh. “About what’s on your mind.”
He plops down on the bed. “I need a woman, Amy, and soon.”
I don’t even want to ask. “Why?”
He stares back at me as if I’m ignorant. “I’m a guy! I have needs.”
I almost laugh, but he’s totally serious. “So you want a woman, or a wife?”
He cracks a smile. “Preferably both—I mean I would like a woman who is my wife.”
I play with the strings on the blanket on his bed. “Why can’t you order a Russian bride?”
He looks down at his hands. “I have nothing to offer her.”
My ears burn. “What do you mean?”
“I have no money. I have no skills. I have no way to support our children.”
I take his hand. “Hank. You could have all those things if you leave here. You could totally get a job. You could have a family. You could even go to college or learn a trade. There’s a whole life out there just waiting for you!”
He looks down at our hands, pouting. “But you don’t want to be with me.”
I let go of his hand. “Not in that way, no, but I could help you, Hank. You could maybe even live in our house. You could be like a foreign exchange student or something. We have a college in our town. You wouldn’t even have to have a car. You could ride a bicycle.”
He stares at me. “What about a job? What would I do?”
I laugh until I see the hurt on his face. “Hank. I’m not laughing at you. There are so many jobs you could do! You could be a security guard at the mall. You could work in a fast-food restaurant. You could be a delivery driver.”
He looks down at the blanket again. “But what if I didn’t like my job?”
This guy is impossible. “Hank! Do you think that everyone loves their job? They don’t. Besides, jobs are temporary. You could quit your job if you didn’t like it and get another one. Do you think that people who work at McDonald’s or Burger King stay there all their lives? They don’t.” I can’t believe he’s so scared to join the real world. “It’s not that bad out there, Hank. I live out there, and I’m not scary, am I?” I punch his shoulder, teasing him.
He looks down at me, touching my chin so gentle I almost forget he bit me earlier. “You scare me, Amy. You scare me to death.” I swallow hard, unable to answer. “I’ve never felt this way about any girl before. Ever. Most girls I meet, I just want to lie down with them, and..well. You know. But not you. I mean, I want to do that with you too, but I also want to talk with you, and laugh with you. I want to say things to make you smile.”
I hear the words he’s saying and the sincerity in his voice. I want to believe him, as much as you can believe anyone who locks you up and throws away the key. I do a mental head shake. Get a grip, Amy. You cannot fall for this guy.
He jumps up. “Hey, are you hungry? I can go get you something to eat.”
I hop up too. “I’ll go with you. I can help carry the food.” Does panic cross his face?
“No. That’s not necessary. You just stay here. I’ll be right back.” He looks back at me. “And keep the door shut, okay?”
As soon as he’s gone, I go to the closet to get lost in the books, a delicious distraction, until I wake up. What am I thinking, reading a book at a time like this? I need to figure out how to get out of this mess, and how to free Jenni and Austin. The more I think about all of this, the farther away my Aunt Evalina feels. For a second or two, white hot rage consumes me, at the thought of her being stuck inside these four walls and writing me a letter to draw me in. What was she thinking? How could my aunt get herself stuck in this prison, and then ask me to come and rescue her? I close my eyes and think aloud. “Aunt Evalina always said everything happens for a reason, Am-y.” I stare up at the ceiling. “What is the reason this time, Evalina?” I growl out my words. “What. Is. It.”
I open a book absentmindedly, skim the inside cover for the story line and shake my head at the plot line. I go to put it back, but absent-mindedly drop it. A piece of paper slips out and falls on the floor. I look down at it and see a long number. What does this mean? I rush over to Hank’s desk and grab a piece of paper. I write the number down. I sit down and consider this. A thought comes to me. I go to the front of his bookcase and pull out a book. I flip through it, and sure enough, another slip of paper falls out! I write down the number on my paper before slipping the piece of paper back in place.
Methodically, I continue down the bookshelf, doing the same with each book as I go along. I grow more excited by the minute. What could all of this mean? I’m into the third shelf when I hear the twist of the doorknob. I shove the paper back in, fold my paper into a note, and jam it in my pocket. I grab a book and walk out of the closet.
Hank looks over at me suspiciously. “Did it take you that long to find one book?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I guess I’m particular. I like to read the inside of the books.”
He holds up a plate of food that smells delicious. “Fish and chips?”
I hand it back to him, all serious. “You take a bite first.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Seriously? Do you not trust me?”
I try again. “I don’t trust the cook.”
He frowns. “Fine.” He takes a big bite of my food and a swig of my drink. “Satisfied?”
I give a decisive nod. “Yep.” I pick up my drink and clink his cup with mine. “Cheers.”
The food is delicious and I finish it quickly. I sigh happily. I’m a little embarrassed about my paranoia, but then I feel all giggly and the room starts to spin. I move in slow motion as I reach out to Hank. He scoops me up and carries me to his bed. He tosses me in. What have I done?