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Jeremy disappeared down the hall where the bedrooms were, and the three of us pulled out chairs at the timber dining table. Luke and I sat opposite each other, with Kirby on the end.
A couple of thuds came from somewhere deeper in the house, followed by the flush of a toilet and a closing door. None of us spoke. Kirby just stared at the tabletop and listened.
Jeremy’s scuffing footsteps came closer, then he reappeared in the doorway. He clapped his hands once, loud enough to make me flinch, and took a seat at the other end of the table, facing Kirby. “You haven’t told me your names.”
“Kirby and Luke,” I said, gesturing to each of them. “And I’m Ava.” I picked up on the hum of the fridge and frowned. “You still have power here?”
Every surface in the all-white kitchen had been wiped down, and a collection of cow ornaments crowded a shelf above the empty sink. The copper pots dangling from a rack over the island bench gleamed in the morning light, and here sat Jeremy, a man in ill-fitting clothes.
“For now,” he said. “Doubt it’ll last much longer.” He rubbed his shaved head. “So, how do you all know each other?”
“I’ve been friends with Kirby since high school,” I said, “and Luke’s my boyfriend.”
Kirby gave a sage nod. “I was the popular one. Obviously.”
Luke slouched in his chair in a way that should have come off as relaxed but somehow seemed charged with energy. He merely smiled at me, his gaze lowering to my mouth just long enough to send a message—to me and the others in the room. My skin warmed, despite knowing it was a game.
“Good to know.” Jeremy’s mouth quirked on one side, and he looked me over with a slow pass that chased away the lingering warmth from Luke.
When I crossed my legs and hugged my waist, his humour faded, the shift so subtle I might have missed it if I hadn’t been watching his mannerisms.
“Where are you headed?” he asked.
“The next town.” Luke’s clipped answer and lack of information made me wonder if he’d clocked the exchange, too. “How far is it?”
“Depends which direction you came from.” Jeremy picked at something under his thumbnail, staring at his hand for a moment before he lifted his head.
“We left our car not far down the road that way.” Kirby pointed in the general direction of the crash and pushed her hair back from her forehead, the sunlight turning the strands a pretty shade of lavender. “We’re on the hunt for a new one now.”
“Ah. If you’re heading south, the next town’s twenty K from here—but you never know, I might be able to help you out with another car.”
“You have a spare one?” Kirby asked. “We’ll take anything that runs.”
“Not here. Only one of them works, but I can drive you into town tomorrow. Should be plenty of options around.”
“Tomorrow?” Luke didn’t move, didn’t so much as flinch. His voice had turned to steel, and his eyes sharpened in a way I hadn’t seen until now.
“Relax, mate,” Jeremy said, amused. “I was there early this morning. Looting’s in full swing now, and the place is a complete madhouse. I’m not going back for at least another day.”
“You could drop us off on the outskirts,” Kirby suggested, a hopeful lilt in her voice. “We’ll take our chances.”
“I’d rather not.” Jeremy smiled. “You can walk if you don’t mind a few hours’ exercise, or I’ll drop you off nice and early tomorrow.”
I held back a sigh. We’d only spent ten minutes here, and the heat was the only thing I liked about the place. “You’re suggesting we stay for the night?”
“If you want. I’ve got room, and I don’t mind.” He caressed his head again, back and forth, back and forth, the stubble crackling beneath his fingers. “You can make yourselves at home. Bathroom’s third door on the left down the hall if anyone needs it.”
“I do—need the bathroom, that is,” I said, my eyes drilling into Kirby. “Come with me?”
“Oh. Okay, yep. Are you fine here?” she asked Luke.
He nodded without taking his eyes off Jeremy.
“We won’t be long,” I said on my way out.
“Take your time.”
I hadn’t heard the rough timbre in Luke’s voice before, and it stayed with me as I walked down the hall.
