"Sorry," I muttered, cheeks warming.
"Not a problem." He patted my hand.
"Why don't you take these two ladies for a good dinner and then make sure they get back to their dorm," Doc suggested.
"Sure, what do you two like?" Allan replied.
"What's good. Burgers?" I answered.
"Oh, Erica's Burger Bar has that great all you can eat salad and pasta bar to go with the burgers. Let's go there," Allan exclaimed.
With as much as I had eaten at lunch, I couldn't imagine being hungry, but my stomach growled at the mention of food.
"Sounds great," Victoria agreed.
Doc stopped the truck in the small downtown area, and we all got out.
"You're not coming?" I looked at Doc, surprised at how disappointed I felt.
"I've got a few things to do." He smiled as he pulled away.
"Does he just not eat?" Victoria asked.
Though neither of the guys looked uncomfortable, I was standing close enough to Allan to feel him shift slightly before he answered. "He eats, just not a ton. Different metabolism."
"Gotcha." Victoria didn't press, and the guys relaxed and walked with us to the burger joint.
Though the place was crowded, they had a table for us, and we went right in.
"Get whatever you want, our treat," Ed stated.
"Thanks," Victoria answered. "We'll buy next time."
"Sure," Allan said easily, though I got the impression he intended to disagree in the future.
The guys both got large burgers and the all you can eat salad bar. Having seen them eat at lunch, I didn't think there would be leftovers.
I got a much smaller burger and the salad bar, and so did Victoria. My stomach was grumbling constantly by the time our food showed up. None of us spoke about the hike, instead, focusing on classes.
By the time everyone was finished, I felt stuffed and my eyelids drooped, despite the nap on the ride down the mountain.
"This has been a great day, thank you," I said.
"Yes," Victoria agreed. "Thank you for including me in your adventure."
"They liked you," Ed remarked. "You'll have to join us again."
I grinned and nodded along with Victoria.
"We should get back," I said reluctantly. "I'm exhausted."
"That thin mountain air and a good hike will do that to you." Ed grinned at me. "Let's go."
Allan paid the bill, and we headed out into the cool evening. "The temperature does shift rapidly here," I said as I pulled my jacket out of my backpack.
"It does," Allan agreed. "I'll follow."
The last he said to Ed, who nodded.
I wondered what he meant, but he dropped back before I could ask. Ed walked with us toward the dorms. I knew Allan was behind us, but I didn't see him. Interesting.
Victoria either didn't notice, or didn't want to comment on it because she brought up one of the classes she shared with Ed that I wasn't in this semester, and they talked while we meandered down the sidewalk.
Most of the shops were getting ready to close, and the sun was below the mountains, though it wasn't dark yet. I heard an owl hoot and Ed froze, head tilted as he listened.
Victoria waited and so did I, not sure what was going on.
"Sofia, could you call Doc please," Ed asked. His normally cheerful tone was flat.
"I don't have his number."
"We'll have to fix that. My phone is in my right pocket. Grab it, lock code is ten ten, call him. He has a shortcut on the home screen."
I had never expected to hear anything like fear in Ed's voice, but I heard it now and didn't question him as I stepped closer and slid my hand into his pocket. He didn't move, muscles tense, alert and watching around us.
A few other small groups moved on the sidewalks. Otherwise, there weren't a ton of people out. With it being a small town, that didn't surprise me.
I unlocked his phone and pushed the icon that had Doc's name under it. The picture was a truck. Allan's icon was a wolf. I happened to notice he had my number on his home screen too, with a geode as the icon. Interesting.
"What's up, Ed?" Doc answered the phone.
"Um, it's Sofia."
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. We're just heading back, and Ed got all worried about something and told me to call you."
He swore. "I'll be right there. Just stay put. Stay on the line."
"Sure."
"I heard," Ed grunted.
Allan came up behind us. "He coming?"
"Yeah," Ed replied.
"Sofia," Doc said on the phone. "Are you anywhere near Sam's Curios?"
I glanced at the businesses, "Um..."
"Yeah, we are," Allan replied, clearly able to hear Doc through the phone. "She's not going to like it."
"We'll apologize later. Just get there. I'm a few minutes away." I heard his truck start in the background.
"What's going on?" Victoria asked, voice quiet.
The guys didn't answer, just ushered us across the street. Ed opened the door for the shop.
"They're about to close," I pointed out.
"It's okay. Go in." Ed actually pushed on my arm.
We entered, and Allan made sure the door shut behind them, then stayed in the entry way.
My arms tingled, and I rubbed at them.
"Can I help you?" An older woman came out from around the counter. She had silver hair, though her face was smooth, and I thought maybe she was younger than her hair made her look. She wore a plain green T-shirt and jeans, and she frowned when she saw Ed and Allan.
"Boys?"
"We were being followed. We'll leave as soon as Doc gets here."
"I thought Mr. Cassidy had a truce with them." She folded her arms across her chest.
"He does, except it doesn't include Sofia. She was in danger." Ed crossed his arms back and made it clear he wasn't budging.
"So, you bring her here?" She did not look pleased.
"We can't fight them all," Allan muttered.
I glanced around the shop, trying to get some clue as to what was going
