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I’m about to die.
“...okay. I’ll bite. No puns.” I point at him, although now I feel a bit silly. “How do you know?”
“’Cause my younger brother’s an asshole and he punches me in the mouth enough that I know damn well what my own blood tastes like, ma’am.”
I burst into laughter.
Well, that’s a relief.
Culver laughs, too. Just a quick awkward thing, almost a giggle, high-pitched and startling enough to silence my laughter instantly.
But I hold on to my smile better than before and shake my head.
“You really shouldn’t mess with that, though. The cops are still trying to figure out who did it.”
“Seems like a real mean thing to do to a new lady in town.” He claps his hands against his thighs and stands, then hefts his toolbox again. “Why the X, though? What’s that mean?”
“Mr. Jacobin, I wish I knew.”
I lead him around to the back of the house, where a really old cable box bristling with severed wires is mounted next to my little deck, close to the baseboards of the slightly raised house. Culver scratches his head, making his dark hair twirl up.
“Well,” he rolls out. “This is all gonna have to go. I’ll just put in a new box and wire everything up fresh, so you just tell me where you want your plug-ins and I’ll get you set up and put in a router for you. I can help you hook up your TV, too, if you want.”
“I can manage connecting one cable to the box, I think,” I say dryly. “But thank you.”
Yeah, I’m getting better at this.
At just being thankful with how easily everyone in this town offers to help, even when you don’t really need it—and even if the person offering a hand weirds me out.
I leave him to do his work and head inside to change out of my work clothes, making sure to close the curtains in my bedroom first.
When I settle back in the kitchen to scope out my dinner options, I can see him through the back window. My cupboard’s already a little bare and I need to head to the grocery store since I didn’t put enough thought into my first shopping trip here.
Even though I try to focus on my own business, I still find myself watching Culver.
I don’t want to rush him, but I don’t want to leave with him here, either.
And what makes me uncomfortable is that every time I glance out the window, he’s glancing in at me.
He holds eye contact too long before he grins and ducks his head back to his work.
Hillfolk don’t eat people, you chicken, I remind myself, staring at those massive Neanderthal teeth that look too capable of cracking bones to suck the marrow out.
God, I hate this.
This whole thing with the Xs, Lucas’ history with the Arrendells, it’s making me paranoid about everyone.
But I’m relieved when my phone rings, offering a little contact to break the surreal atmosphere.
I stop wandering between the living room and kitchen and dig my phone out of my messenger bag on the dining room table.
When I see Lucas’ name on the caller ID, my heart skips.
“Hey,” I say into the phone—just as Culver looks up again, his head bobbing up over the edge of the windowsill.
All I can see are his eyes. The rest of his face is hidden, but he’s watching me.
“Hey,” Lucas says. Just the sound of his voice is enough to warm me. I don’t know how I tripped into falling for this guy, but now I’m tumbling pretty hard. “You busy tonight?”
“No, not really, just trying to figure out what I can make for dinner with half a loaf of stale bread and some olives.”
“Well, you’re in luck,” Lucas drawls. “Because I was actually calling to ask you over for dinner. My place, tonight, around seven?”
My breath stops.
I can’t take it anymore.
I have to turn away from those dark eyes drilling into me. I give Culver my back, even if that still makes me feel vulnerable.
“Sure,” I whisper. “Honestly, I’m glad you called. I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Why’s that? Lilah, is somebody there with you?”
I hesitate.
I don’t want my dumb overactive imagination to worry him. I’m sure he’ll laugh at me too for getting so freaked out by a guy who’s just a little awkward.
“I’m fine. Just hungry enough to eat a tire.”
“Then get your fine ass here as soon as you can, Miss Lilah. Food’ll be waiting.”
“I’ll be there!”
“With bells on?”
I giggle.
“A little more than that.” Even with Culver still peeking in, Lucas always makes me smile. “Talk to you later.”
He mutters my name softly in acknowledgment and hangs up.
I make myself turn, glancing out the window.
This time, Culver has his head down working, rather than staring in like the world’s most obvious Peeping Tom. I linger, not really processing much, just turning over the little things I need to do to get ready for work tomorrow so I can make time for Lucas tonight.
