Aria’s POV

Carl had been acting strange all day—sweet, attentive, almost… excited. I didn’t understand why until he appeared in the doorway of my room, smiling like he was hiding something behind his back.

“Aria,” he said softly, “get dressed. Nothing too fancy. I’m taking you somewhere.”

I blinked. “Somewhere… where?”

“You’ll see.”

He winked and disappeared before I could protest.

Thirty minutes later, when he led me outside, I actually froze.

He’d turned ...