But he’s at the lunch table along with the others, and he waves me tiredly over to join him.
“Is Korren sick?” he asks. “Is that why you were late today?”
“No. I took him to McKinley Lake Hut,” I grit out. “He said he wanted to hike to one of the forest service cabins, and there was space last night. I know it was a stupid idea. But I didn’t think we’d have another chance.”
“Just eat your lunch,” Uncle Rhodes says, shaking his head.
Cami corners me as soon as I’ve grabbed a sandwich, a purposeful glint in her eye.
“Is Korren okay?” she asks. “Did those homophobic assholes get to him?”
“We’re not homophobic!” Ambrose protests. “Dex is just the straightest guy I know. It’s funny, that’s all.”
Cami shoots him a dirty look.
“Korren and I are not together,” I say for what feels like the hundredth time. “He’s not gay. The challenge is still on. And now he’s out looking for a different rental because of you idiots, and he’s probably not going to find a single fucking option. But he’ll feel too awkward to keep living with me. Way to go.”
“You can’t be serious,” Garret says with a laugh. “How far have you guys gone? Have you—”
“None of your fucking business,” I snap.
“Go away, guys,” Cami says, making shooing motions. “Can’t you tell when you’re not wanted?”
Once they’ve backed off, Cami gives me a significant look. “I sense there’s more to this story. Anything you want to share?”
I shake my head. I’ll never admit it to her, but I’m grateful for her show of solidarity. If anyone finds out the truth, I’ll face a lot worse than a few jokes from the crew.
Chapter 36
Korren
I’m much better by afternoon, so I pull on my down jacket and a hat I’ve borrowed from Dex and venture into the snowstorm.
A couple inches have already accumulated, and my footsteps squeak as they punch down the snow, the sound loud in the muffled silence.
I start into town on foot. The streets are quiet, the falling snow smoothing out the footprints and car tracks so it feels like I’m the first person who’s ever walked these streets.
At the far end of town, the noticeboard is coated with drifted snow. I wipe it off and squint at the postings, snow stinging my cheeks.
I still don’t know why I reacted so badly this morning, except that I’m obviously not getting over things as well as I’d thought.
I need to break things off with Dex now.
Before I get so tangled up in his life that I can’t survive the fallout.
There aren’t many rentals listed, just the same expensive vacation houses I saw last time and a single new page with a scribbled address that I think is way up the hill at the back of town.
I’ll definitely need the car for this.
I write the address on the back of my hand and trudge back toward home, snow whirling before me and clinging to my hair. The storm has bled all the color from the forest behind Chief Rhodes’ house and turned the trees to ghosts.
The keys are already in my pocket, so I don’t bother making a detour to our cabin. Instead I unlock Dex’s car and slide into thedriver’s seat. I’m not thinking of much until I put the key into the ignition.
Then it slams into me. I’m back in the ambulance, and everything is flashing lights and screaming, and the world is closing in around me.
“Stop that,” I growl at myself. My voice wavers.
I put a trembling hand on the steering wheel, trying to drag myself back, but my heart is thudding so frantically in my chest that I feel like I’m being attacked.
