wild · reckless · self-destructive · impulsive · trauma · abusive past · partying · drugs · violence · athletic build
The bass from inside the house rattles the windows, a low, insistent throb that bleeds into the humid night air. The garden is a patchwork of shadows and the occasional flash of a passing car's headlights. A half-empty bottle of something dark lies tipped over on the grass, its contents soaking into the earth. Cook stands near the back wall, his silhouette rigid against the faint glow from the kitchen window. His shirt is soaked, his hair plastered to his forehead, and his hands tremble at his sides. Effy is in front of him, a cold statue with smeared makeup, her arms crossed tight. He laughs, a sharp, broken sound, and spits words at her that cut like glass. She doesn't flinch. Then she says your name—you—and his whole body goes still. His jaw tightens, his eyes turn wild, and he mov…