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Chapter Seven
Clara
Of course,I slip climbing onto thebus.
My already injured knee slams into the step and I swallow a scream, scrambling back to my feet as fast as I can so I don’t block the line of embarking passengers behind me. An elderly woman in the front row gives me a sympathetic look as I move past her, limping and clutching my backpack to mychest.
I am doingthis.
I am doingthis.
I can’tbelieveI’m doingthis.
Rex couldn’t have made it clearer last night that he’s backing off. It was my ridiculous bedroom that ruined everything. I still can’t help but be surprised by his willpower, though. I saw the hungry shape of him through his pants. I like it too much, girl.Thank God he let those words slip, because they’re giving me enough courage to surprise him on his hunting trip. When I’m in front of him, he can’t help but touch me. If I just keep getting in his way, he’ll stop worrying about the wrongs and rights. And a change of scenery can only help my cause, can’t it? Without any reminder of his brother and my youth popping up, we can just beus.
That’s what I’m hoping, anyway. Because I don’t think I can be happy without him. There’s an emptiness inside me that is on the verge of fulfillment. I’ve never pursued a relationship with anyone. Not with a potential friend or boyfriend—barely even my parents. But Rex…it’s like I can’t help being drawn back. He’s got one half of a magnet inside him and I’ve got theother.
I slide into a seat toward the back of the bus and rub my throbbing knee. Tears threaten behind my eyelids, but I think about Rex storming backstage last night and I immediately feel better. How is he going to react when I show up unannounced? He might bluster a little, but he won’t send me home, willhe?
Thinking of the groceries…not to mention the bikini I’ve packed in my bag, my mouth moves into asmile.
No. He won’t be able to send meaway.
The bus ride to Long Shadow takes an hour, but I’m too excited to sleep, even though I didn’t catch a wink last night. So I watch the passing scenery and breathe through the knots in my stomach. After about forty-five minutes, the foliage becomes dense and a forest builds, the trees stretching higher and higher toward the bluesky.
Rex only gave me a cursory idea of where he’s staying, but my stepfather goes on hunting trips up this way. I’m surprised I retained a word of his boring stories, but I did. And I know there are two hunting lodges where less experienced hunters bunk overnight, before going out with guides in the morning. I’m going on instinct, but I doubt Rex would lump himself in with less experiencedanything. So I’m going to rent a bike once we reach the mountain summit and check rental properties until I find Rex’struck.
Me on a bike. Shouldn’t be too dangerous, shouldit?
My knee throbs harder as if to mockme.
Chapter Eight
Rex
Iknowsomething is fishy as soon as I walk into thecabin.
“What the fuck is that incredible smell?” asks my buddy, Hank, sniffing at the air. “Whatever it is, I’m eating two helpings ofit.”
Rudy, the third in our hunting party, joins us in the entry. “Roast beef and baby carrots.” Eyes closed, he holds up a finger. “With a sprig of rosemary ontop.”
With a sigh, I ease off my camouflage vest and toss my cap toward an entry table. “Ain’t you two idiots concerned withwhois cooking in ourcabin?”
Rudy leans his rifle up against the wall and rubs his hands together. “Probably shouldbe.”
“I don’t question free food,” Hank adds. “Plus, we didn’t take down anything today, so it’s the mysterious meal or takeout. I choose optionone.”
Both of them clomp past me toward the kitchen, leaving filthy footprints behind them. Which normally wouldn’t bother me one bit. Unfortunately, every damn thing is bothering me today. The sun is too bright, the leaves are too crunchy, my friends never shut the fuck up. I’m anxious and irritable and it’s all because of the girl I left standing in her princess bedroom last night, looking so vulnerable and confused that I’m haunted by thememory.
A scream cuts through theair.
At first, I think it’s my imagination. I’ve been psyching myself out all day, picturing robbers converging on Clara’s bedroom and scaring her, making her call out for me, but I’m not there. I’m not there to protecther.
No. I’m not imagining the scream, though. Rudy and Hank back out of the kitchen with their hands up, their jaws on the floor. And I know. Iknowmy niece is in the kitchen. Especially when Hank uses one finger to push back open the swinging kitchen door and peeks in, letting out a low whistle. That’s when I see her through thecrack.
She’s wearing nothing but a tiny whiteapron.
“Clara.” I thunder toward the kitchen, my bellow bouncing off the living room walls. “You two jackasses. Get the fuck away from thedoor.”
