Stroke Of Fear

   “You missed the stories last night.”

   I glance up from my food and look at Heath. I haven’t talked to him since our horseback activities. He has a goofy smile on his face. “What stories?”

   He plops down in front of me and starts to shovel in food like a machine. He’s a big guy, a little tubby around the belly. But buff. He has reddish blond hair and scruff to match. “They hired this Indian woman to tell ghost stories about a reservation close to us.”

   “Well, that should help the kids sleep at night.”

   He snorts. “It was wicked. A bunch of the counselors are going to sneak out and go see the old house in the woods. They say some people were murdered there.”

   I take a sip of my soup. It’s not very appetizing anymore. “That’s promising.”

   “You should come.” His gaze flickers toward mine. “And Tanner.” He’s holding back his smile and shoveling food in at the same time. A mouthful falls to his plate and I snort.

   “Gross.”

   He smiles over the food in his teeth. “Really you should come.”

   “Come to what?” Cassie asks, sitting down beside Heath.

   Oh, please don’t tell Cassie. I’m trying to give him eye signals, but he’s too busy talking over his dinner. “There is the old house in the woods a few miles away. Remember the story last night?”

   Cassie nods.

   “Well, a bunch of us are going to go. Want to come?”

   “Hell yes,” she says, looking at me. I roll my eyes. “Oh, come on, Aubrey. It’s one night. It’ll be fun. Plus, you can invite Tanner.” She waggles her brows.

   Shit. Cassia will bug me all day long. I can see it on her face. “Maybe for a little bit.” I inwardly scold myself for being a pushover.

   “Success!” Cassie yells.

* * *

   I double layer my clothes. Its summer, but the evening winds are chilly. About seven of us are going tonight. Tanner is lying on my bed, head resting against my pillow. His hands are behind his head, leaving a sliver of skin showing above his jeans. God, I’d seen him naked last night, and I’m one-hundred percent sure he won’t disappoint when we finally do it. He was thick, hard. I wanted to reach down and wrap my hand around him. But, I’d already dropped my clothes. I didn’t want to push my limits, too much. I don’t even know where this part of me comes from.

   I was like this before the accident, but not in four years. Tanner brought it out in me.

“Stop checking Tanner out and get ready,” Cassie hisses. “We’re leaving in ten.”

   “Wow, I’ll never let you be my wingman,” I grumble.

  Tanner sits up on his elbow and smiles up at me. The hoodies he’s wearing is tight on his biceps. If I had half a brain I’d ditch Cassie and spend the night wrapped in them. “You checkin’ me out, darlin’?”

   “Red-handed.”

   He winks, then stands up. “I know. It’s so hard not to look.”

   “I’d be a liar if I said that wasn’t true.”

   Cassie fakes a gag and runs her brush through her hair.

    “So, what’s this house we’re goin’ to see, anyway? We missed the story.”

   Cassie snorts. “Supposedly some family was murdered there in the seventies. The story was wicked. Some crazed ex-boyfriend comes after the woman and kills her family off.”

   Ex-boyfriend. Killer. Great. Tanner’s eyes shift toward mine and Cassie frowns. “Sorry, I’m just now getting used to the story, Aubrey.” She reaches over and gives me a long hug. I’m glad I told her. I’m not sure why I ever doubted telling her in the first place.

   “It’s okay,” I say, pulling back. “We better get going.”

   All the counselors are sitting in their vehicles when we get to the parking lot. The blonde that was pressed up to Jake is standing beside him. She won’t make eye contact with me. Jake is clearly pissed off, but he manages a small wave.

   Eric pokes his head out from the back of the truck in front of us. “Who’s ready to go get the shit scared out of them?”

   Cassie raises her hand.

“That a girl,” Eric says, glancing my way. I flip him off and he laughs, loudly. “Everyone pile into the cars. We’re going ghost hunting.”

   Tanner chuckles and drags me toward his truck. I’m so glad he didn’t try to ride with them. This way I have a better chance of talking Tanner into leaving early.

   “Are you sure you’re okay with doing this, Aubrey? We don’t need you anymore scared than you already are.”

   I pull the strings of my hoodie. “I’m sure. I gotta stop being so damn scared all the time. I can’t live that way.”

   Tanner grabs my chin with his fingers and makes me look at him. “You have every right to be scared. You’re only human. Humans have fears. It’s inevitable.”

   I lean into his palm. God, he feels perfect. “What’s your fear?”

   Tanner screws his eyes shut and wraps his hand around my neck to pull me closer to him. “Losing you.”

   The drive only takes about five minutes. It’s getting parked out of people’s way and out of sight that’s the problem. When we finally part underneath a shade of oaks, everyone gets out.

   Eric’s taken the role as leader, but no one stops him. I’m guessing everyone else is scared shitless. “It’s about a mile this way. Follow me!”

   Cassie squeals and jumps on his back. “Let’s hurry, so we’re not in the back,” I whisper to Tanner.

   Once we hit the woods everyone goes quiet. The wind whips through the trees, giving off an eerie whistle. “Scared, darlin’?” Tanner whispers.

   “Uh huh,” I say, curling into his chest. “This was a dumbass idea.”

   “Then why did you say you’d come? I mean we could be doing something else right now,” he mumbles against my ear.

   I smile. “Peer pressure.”

   He tugs on my side. “There.” He tosses his head in front of me. Holy shit. When they said Victorian home I didn’t realize it would be gigantic. It’s probably one of the biggest houses I’ve ever seen. The shutters are only hanging by a few nails, the black paint worn and it’s rusted around the edges.

   “The old bat wasn’t lying,” Eric yells. “Here it is, ladies and gentlemen.” His voice is loud, and I can hear the faint sound of fear in it.

   “Shall we?” Cassie yells. A hard hand lands on my right shoulder, and I yelp out, curving my body toward Tanner. I see the mop of red hair and I scowl. Heath.

   “Damn, Aubrey. You gonna pee your pants, too,” he says.

   I scowl at him. “Don’t do that again. And yes, I almost pissed myself.”

   They both laugh and Heath urges me forward with his shoulder. Everyone is walking slowly—inch-by- inch—until we get to the front steps. The porch is caved inward in some spots. The huge glass door has spray paint on it that says Stay Away.

   A lump forms in my throat, but I push it away. Eric takes the first step onto the porch and turns to look at us. A wild excitement is showing on his face. “You pussies coming?”

   Tanner scowls at the word, but pulls me tighter. “Remember, we can leave whenever you want. Just let me know, darlin’.”

   My mouth won’t open to answer. Eric leads us up the squeaky stairs. The door won’t budge when he turns