“What’s a Slasher costume doing out here?” Tiffany asked. She shut off the flashlight, leaving Jason in the dark, the white mask an afterimage on the inside of his eyelids like a bruise.
“Maybe the owner of the boat picked it up somewhere and meant to take it to the thrift shop when he got the chance. Tourists are always leaving them around.” He hoped he sounded convincing enough to keep Tiffany from freaking out. He was worried she’d run off again if she got too upset.
“Or maybe the owner of the boat put the mask on before diving into the water andnearly drowning me.”
Tiffany almost knocked Jason over as she barreled for the dock. The boat rocked menacingly. Jason was about to reach out to steady her, but thought better of it. She still held the knife. He clung to a seat back instead, resisting the urge to help her climb out of the boat, even though her limbs wobbled like a newborn colt’s.
“Tiff—”
She finally scrabbled onto the dock without dropping the knife. “I’m getting the fuck away from here.”
Jason carefully climbed out of the boat beside her. “I’m heading back to the cabin. For once can youpleaseput aside your personal feelings and come with me? The others will be waiting. It’ll be safer if we stay together.”
Tiffany put her hands on her hips with the ferocity he’d once loved. “How’re we going to find our way back? We can’t stick to the shore in case the owner of the boat returns.”
Jason took the compass out of his pocket and showed her. She nodded resignedly. “Fine. Lead the way.”
He motioned in front of him. “After you.”
Tiffany’s laugh was high and sharp. Jason wondered if she’d lost her mind, or if Freddy’s weed had been laced with something stronger than cannabis. Especially when her next question took him completely off guard.
“What did you do with the axe?”
“Huh?”
“The axe. You were splitting wood back at the cabin. You were the last one to use it. I noticed it was gone from the tree stump.”
Jason shrugged. “I put it back in the toolshed and then locked it up.”
She eyed him skeptically. Jason blew out a long breath. He was so tired of her frustrating suspicions. “We should hurry. After you.” He motioned again down the length of the dock with his flashlight.
“No way.Youwalk in front ofme.”
“What if Russ or somebody creeps up behind you?”
“Fine. We’ll walk side by side. And turn off that flashlight or else he’ll see us!”
He grunted but turned it off. There was an awkward moment as they both waited for the other to take the first step. Finally, Jason gave in and started down the dock. It felt weird to be walking in tandem without holding hands. They’d taken plenty of walks together as a couple. Down a catwalk as the prom king and queen. Across college campus with him carrying both their schoolbags. Escorting her from his frat house to her car. It was unnerving how quickly they fell into sync. He was still in tune with her, despite his attempts to play his own song.
They ambled past the old cabin ruins and started up the hill. Tiffany had trouble navigating the terrain with her flimsy canvas sneakers, but slapped away Jason’s hand when he tried to help. God, she could be so stubborn. At this rate it was going to take hours to get back to the cabin. At least she’d put away the knife, since she needed her arms to keep her balance on the increasingly steep slope.
Finally, they reached level ground. Tiffany continued to stick to his side like a bur, careful to never walk ahead or fall behind.
“You’re acting weird,” he said. Even stranger than not walking hand in hand was Tiffany’s prolonged silence. She always had plenty to say, opinions she enjoyed sharing with anyone who’d listen. He’d initially been drawn to her strong likes and dislikes, as someone who, until recently, didn’t have any of his own.
Her laugh came out high and sharp again, like the chirp of a forest animal. “I’macting weird?”
Jason shook his head. “I don’t understand you. Or maybe I understand you too well.” Tiffany’s picture-perfect world was crumbling. She’d had a near-death experience. She’d never had anything more stressful than a chipped nail challenge her status quo, and so her normal composure was falling apart.
Her lips clamped together in a grimace. “I don’t understand you at all anymore.”
He felt an unwelcome flash of guilt, and his teeth gritted. Couldn’t she see their split was good for her, too? Maybe she wanted more than her parents’ life and didn’t know it. And if she did want that cookie-cutter existence, there were plenty of guys out there who’d be happy to give her the fairy-tale marriage she imagined. She was so smart and gorgeous that she could have any guy she wanted.
“Why is it different this time?” Tiffany’s question wasn’t a demand, but spoken with genuine curiosity. As if she was asking about tomorrow’s weather. “We’ve fought before. Why are you making it so hard? Making up was always the best part. It made us appreciate what we have.”
He dragged a hand down his face. “I don’t know. I need time to figure things out.”
“How much time? Like a month?”
