Maya looked out the window. A muscle in her jaw ticked.
“Right. Of course.” She put on an attempt at a calming smile. “It isn’t natural. The Chains are moving on St. Louis right now, and the storm… Let’s just say it’s aiding them.”
She walked over, pulling Harper close to her and giving her a kiss on the temple. A soft touch that Harper couldn’t help but sigh in response to.
Evie went stiff. Maya grimaced as though picking up an unpleasant smell.
“It’s safest if you stay here until morning. Aleksander told me to stay at the cabin, to make sure Harper was okay.” She turned to Evie. “But I don’t have to do so from in here. If it helps, I can step outside. The storm won’t bother me that much.”
Harper grabbed her t-shirt. “You don’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I do.” Maya’s hand went to her ribs. A subconscious movement, it looked like. “If it would make Evie more comfortable, I’ll stay outside. I’ll keep my distance.”
Evie was still stiff as a metal rod, but her expression was no longer frozen in terror. Instead, it softened into surprise.
“You would do that?”
Maya’s smile withered a little. “Of course. Just say the word.”
Evie relaxed, her mouth opening as though ready to burst out an answer, when her gaze flicked to Harper’s hand.
Her grip on Maya’s shirt had turned clutching without her realizing. Maya might be hardy enough to withstand the harsh weather, but just thinking about her sitting outside in the dark,alone…
Evie’s eyes flicked between them. She swallowed and crossed her arms over her chest.
“You don’t need to do that.” She tried a smile of her own, the attempt weak. “It’s not like it matters, anyway. You havean invitation that none of us can rescind, so you can come in whenever you want, but… thank you. For asking.”
Maya nodded, though the tension remained in her shoulders. But then her eyes drifted around the dark cabin, pausing.
“You didn’t light a fire?”
Harper gaped. “Wetriedlighting a fire, thank you very much. It’s harder than it looks.”
“If you don’t know what you’re doing.” Maya walked over and kneeled by the fireplace. “You’re in luck. I worked at a summer camp once. Some skills stick with you.”
Maya rearranged the logs Harper had haphazardly piled, stuffing splinters and bark between them. She bundled up a few pieces of paper, placed them in the center of the pile, and lit them with a match.
Flames sprang from the paper, licking at the kindling. After blowing on it a few times, the sharp crackle of burning wood filled the cabin, heat following right after.
“See?” Maya said with a grin. The flames cast orange light onto her face. “Easy.”
When Harper stared at her, not speaking, Maya frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Harper leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “But just so you know… I’m so fucking attracted to you right now.”
Chapter 33
“It’s not that serious!” Nell said. “We’ve only been on a few dates. You’re making a big deal about nothing.”
Harper raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh.”
Nell gave her a look. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what? Not believe you? You bring up Casey every time we talk. How is that not a big deal?”
Maybe Harper was only telling herself as much, but the temperature change burned away some of the tension. With the aid of the warm fire and flickering candles, the space turned so toasty that it was impossible not to relax, at least a little.
