Things We Hide From the Light

The next morning Lina drives a half-awake Nash to the Just Jump Aviation and Skydiving airstrip outside of town. Despite Nash’s reluctance to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, the jump is exhilarating. As a rookie jumper, he must jump while attached to a pro—Lina, who is a certified jumper. Suspended above the earth, Nash is “awestruck” (490) by the rich autumn colors below. Lina surveys the earth and exclaims, “Everything makes sense up here. Everything is always beautiful” (490). When they land, Nash is certain his heart belongs to Lina.

Naomi’s friends, including Lina, gather at Naomi’s house for an impromptu bachelorette party with a focus on last-minute wedding planning. Impulsively, Naomi’s mother decides they need snacks, bottles of wine, and romcoms. With Waylay in tow, Lina and the “gals” (502) head to the convenience store. Gathering snacks, Waylay points out Sunkist Fruit Gems to Lina—the thugs who kidnapped Waylay and Naomi loved those candies. In a flash, Lina puts it together: The guy buying candy in the grocery store who has been following Lina around is one of Duncan Hugo’s men. Lina calls Nash but can only leave a voicemail. Just then, the guy appears behind her.