The blinker turns on, and we take a sudden left. The dirt road leads up a steep hill. The ground is covered with a blanket of snow. No tracks that I can see. Everything is undisturbed and quiet. The creaking of the metal frame surrounding the truck is the only thing that can be heard along with the crunch of the snow pressing into the ground because of the tires.
“We questioned surrounding guests at the hotel to see if they knew where your parents were, but no one knew exactly where they went. They all said, ‘hiking on a mountain’. I don’t want you to worry, not yet.”
“It’s been three days, Josh. The chance of them being alive is slim. You know it, and I know it; you’re just trying to find bodies now. No one can survive this cold weather long.” I mutter and open the door before the truck comes to a full stop. I need out of the cab of the truck with this guy, and I need him to stop touching me. Right now, I don’t know if it is to console me or something else.
Emotionally, I’m not in the right mindset to decipher it right now. I want to concentrate on finding my mom and that’s it. My boots hit the ground with a soft thud, since the snow breaks my fall. Four more trucks line up behind us, and Rowan is the first one out of the vehicle next in line.
“Are you okay?”
I sigh, exasperated from his back and forth. “I’m fine, Rowan. Go find someone that isn’t a mistake and worth your time. I’m done here.”
I walk around the front of the truck, and Josh jumps out from the driver’s side, zipping up his Denver Police Department-issued jacket. If I wasn’t blinded by Rowan and his ‘Rowan-ness’, I would think Josh is a good-looking guy.
And he takes control of situations, which is really attractive. “Okay, I want us to split up in two groups of five. Anything smaller risks people getting lost or injured without help. So, stay together. Keep your radios on for check-ins every fifteen minutes. The snow gets bad this high on the mountain.” Josh pulls a ski mask over his face, and I do the same with my pink one. He smiles at me and shakes his head. “You ready?” he asks.
“What?” I ask, wondering what is so funny.
“Nothing,” he shakes his head, but the smile doesn’t leave his face.
“Alright, let’s do this,” Rowan says, walking ahead of Josh like he is the leader.
“Can’t you go with the other team, Rowan?” I ask, not bothering to hide the disdain in my voice.
“My stepsister is going with people I don’t know. Of course, I’m coming.” He emphasizes the word ‘step’ like I did earlier, knowing it means nothing to us, but it is fuel to add to the fire, nonetheless.
I curl my lip at him, ready to spew hot, red flames of anger when Josh walks in between us and points ahead. “See the break between the trees? That’s the trail we want to go on. If you see any broken trees, limbs, plants, or any type of disturbance, let me know.”
I glance around the forest. Snow covers the leaves. All I can think about is how my mom’s dead body looks with snow on it. I gulp and try to clear the image out of my head. It isn’t easy. Not when I see logs laying around everywhere, and I have to do a double-take to make sure it isn’t our parents.
Chapter 19 Rowan
We enter the penthouse around seven at night. Everly tosses her wet jacket and scarves on the floor and whips off her pink ski mask. I know the situation is dire, but she looks so adorable in that mask. I can’t voice that, though because ever since I said what I said last night, she’s withdrawn herself from me.
It’s what I wanted, isn’t it?
Then, why in the hell is it bothering me so bad?
“They are out there, Everly.”
She doesn’t say anything to me, just ignores me as she slams the door to the bathroom, leaving me in the tension-laced air. I let out a heavy breath while unwrapping the scarf from around my neck. I walk over to the fireplace and turn the electric logs on to heat the place. I lay out our wet clothes on the floor, hoping the fire will help dry them, but since it isn’t a wood burning fireplace, I’m not sure how well it will work.
I turn my head toward the bathroom and sigh. I don’t remember a time where she and I have been so many worlds apart. It’s hard to believe that ten years ago, we were practically attached at the hip. Now, I barely know the woman in the other room.
The bathroom door opens, and when she walks out, my breath catches. She changed. She let out the braids in her hair, and they curl in synchronization down her back and shoulders. A beautiful, cascading, waterfall of honey. Her cheeks are still a little pink from being outside for so long, but her lips are glossy, and her green eyes stand out from the mascara painting her lashes.
“I’m going to the bar,” she announces.
The hell she is.
“Really? Come on, Everly. We need to rest for tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to be here with you any more than I have to, Rowan. I need a break from you. I’m going to go down and get a drink.”
“And look for someone to fuck,” I snarl.
She deadpans me with a look that could kill, if it were possible. “Contrary to popular belief, Rowan. When I
