I knew what denial looked like, and this had shades of it—the stubborn unwillingness to acknowledge that something was wrong. Something had overturned inside of him that could never be fully righted.
“It’s about...” He ran a hand back through his hair. “It’s about how everything will be different going forward. You’ll go back to Virginia with your family, and I’ll go back to North Carolina with mine. And if we want to see each other, I need permission to take the car. You’ll need to run it by your parents to get their okay. We’ll be living with a set of rules we haven’t had in years, and while there’s something a little wonderful in that, I just want this...I want to forget for a little while. Outrun the hurt. This one last time, I just want to go somewhere no one else can find us.”
I smiled, taking his arm when he offered it. He walked us slowly, carefully, around the back of the car. He opened the door and helped me up into the front passenger seat, arranging my awkwardly bulky walking cast with care. He leaned in to buckle my seat belt, using it as an excuse to kiss me again.
“Where are we going?” Chubs shouted at him as Liam ran around the back of the car to the driver’s-side door.
“Quiet, dear,” Vida said mildly, resting a hand on his leg.
“Yes, dear,” Chubs grumbled back.
Next to them, Zu beamed.
I was still smiling when Liam buckled himself in and turned to address the group. “Okay, team. Where to? I figure we have about an hour before the conference ends and, for once, we’ve got gas to burn.”
“Is this how you got around before?” Vida wondered aloud. “It is a miracle you dumbasses survived.”
“Told you,” Chubs mumbled. I reached back and smacked his arm. “Fine. Okay. Where does everyone want to go?”
“Beach, beach, beach, beach,” Zu chanted.
“Uh, not sure there’s one nearby, so we’ll have to take a rain check on that one. Anyone else?” Liam asked. “Vote?”
“I don’t care,” I said, leaning my head back against the seat. “Can we just get lost and see where that lands us?”
“Darlin’, that is the best damn idea I’ve heard in a long time. You’re navigator. Tell me when and where to turn.” He turned the keys in the ignition, letting out a “Yes!” as an Allman Brothers song came pouring out of the speakers. By the time we rolled up the ramp and out of the parking garage, even Chubs’s groans had turned to laughter.
We drove, winding through the city streets until we found green, tree-lined roads, making our way toward the lazy lines of the river that ran along the curved spine of the city. Liam glanced over at me, taking a break from his off-key crooning. Lit by the warm afternoon sunlight, his fingers entwined with mine over the center console. Zu rocked in time to the music, chattering excitedly about each and every sign we passed. Chubs slid a book out of the backseat pocket in front of him, examining the cover for a moment before flipping it open. His fingers absently tapped the cracked spine to the beat as Vida leaned against his shoulder and closed her eyes.
I brought my window down, letting my free hand drift out to catch the wind.
And the open road rolled out in front of us.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
IT IS A WONDERFUL, BITTERSWEET MOMENT to arrive at this page and realize I’ve reached the end of a series that has been responsible for so many amazing memories—and for bringing some truly incredible people into my life.
I would again like to start by thanking the editorial geniuses I’ve been lucky enough to have in my corner: my editor, Emily Meehan, for seeing the potential in a story about superpowered teens roaming Virginia in a beat-up minivan, for her incredible eye for teasing out the heart of each book, and for not drop-kicking me out a window every time I turned in a 600-page draft (seriously); Laura Schreiber, for reading the story first, loving the characters in all the right ways, and working so hard on each draft from the very beginning; and Jess Harriton for the masterful behind-the-scenes work that kept us all on the same page.
To all of the heroes, fairy godmothers, wise guides, and wizards alike who make the magic happen at Hyperion every single day: working with you has brought this journey to a true happily-ever-after. Thanks much to Suzanne Murphy, Stephanie Lurie, Dina Sherman, Simon Tasker, Joann Hill, Marci Senders, Elke Villa, Seale Ballenger, Jamie Baker, Andrew Sansone—everyone!
This series would still be nothing more than a document on my computer if not for the guidance, encouragement, and care given to me by my amazing agent, Merrilee Heifetz. I’m also incredibly grateful to Sarah Nagel and Chelsey Heller for their support and savviness over the years. Thank you, Team Writers House!
Heaps of love to my critique partners and their smart, beautiful minds: Anna Jarzab, who has always seemed to know the story and characters better than I do, and has been both an invaluable sounding board and a champion, and Sarah Maas, who inspires me to be braver and dig deeper with each draft and for getting it—all of it!
I owe everything to my family—to my mom, queen of perseverance and unwavering love, for inspiring me to take risks; to Daniel for reading all those early drafts and giving me awesome feedback; and to Steph for never steering me wrong with her PR advice.
And to you, dear reader, for following Ruby and her friends to the end. I hope that when you have the chance to crack your world open wide with new possibilities, to meet new people, and to take a turn down an unexpected, new road, you do just one thing: carpe the hell out of that diem.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ALEXANDRA BRACKEN is the New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds and Never Fade. Born and raised in Arizona, she moved east to study history and English at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Alex now lives in New York City, where you can find her hard at work on her next novel in a charming little apartment that’s perpetually overflowing with books. Visit her online at www.alexandrabracken.com and on Twitter @alexbracken.
In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds series) Page 48