Robby chuckled nervously. “All right, Caleb. Time to go home.”
“Jesus! Already? We just got here,” Caleb groaned.
“Finally,” Jenna muttered from my side. I flashed her a quick smile. She peered at me through half-closed eyes. “Your cheeks are a bit rosy.”
“How can you tell in the darkness?” I asked with a raised brow.
She leaned closer. “And your eyes are all shiny.”
“Whatever,” I said waving her away.
“I had a glass of warm water,” she said with wide, jealous streaked eyes.
“Sorry,” I said biting my cheek, so I didn’t laugh. I really was sorry she hadn’t been able to join in the fun… or whatever it was.
Jenna crossed her arms. She turned to Robby and stared. “Help me get him home since this was your bright idea.”
“Of course, m’lady!” Robby said.
It was my turn to roll my eyes. But I wasn’t alone. Jenna’s eyes rolled too.
“Thanks for having us,” Robby called back over his shoulder. There were only five other people left in the basement and a huge mess.
“Take care,” Dirk called.
My eyes locked onto Evan’s for a long moment before I looked away. He was so gorgeous it was hypnotizing… or maybe that was just the alcohol talking.
We exited the building. Robby and Caleb had their arms around each other. They were singing one of the songs, trying to keep their voices down but failing.
Robby stopped abruptly. “What was that?”
“What was what?” I asked.
“Hey!” Caleb called out. “Come back here!”
Robby let go of Caleb and grabbed my hand. “Let’s get back.”
“What is it?” I said noticing the concern in his eyes.
Robby ushered both Jenna and me forward. “Someone was in the shadows… watching us.”
8
Adam
My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I think we should pack away some supplies,” Leah said as she began pacing. She flicked her fingers up as though she was mentally making a list of some kind. “We’ll hide a bag, you know, just in case.”
“That’s a great idea,” I said. “Unless, of course, someone comes in here and finds it.”
Leah grimaced. “We’ll just have to hide it well. I’ll figure it out. Leave it all to me.”
“Are you sure? I can help,” I said cocking a brow.
“It’s fine,” Leah said. “I actually want to do this. It’ll give me something to do.”
“I thought writing in your notebook was your something to do?” I asked.
“A person can do more than one thing,” Leah said. “We need to place an order but it can’t be obvious what we’re doing. Like, make several orders over time. And we’ll have to pick stuff up too. Different days… different times. I’ll make a list.”
“Sounds like you have it all figured out,” I said.
Leah grinned. “Not yet but I will.”
She moved around the room with purpose. Leah was reinvigorated. Not at the idea that we might have to leave but because the project would keep her mind occupied.
“We have to be super careful not to draw any suspicion since we’re already on Eva’s bad side,” Leah said as she dashed over to the bookshelf to grab a new notebook. She slapped her hand on the front cover as she looked at me. “I have a lot of work to do.”
“Well, ideally, we won’t have to leave,” I reminded her.
“I know but with all the Eva stuff and now someone sneaking around town, things could change like that,” Leah said snapping her fingers.
I sat down on the sofa but kept my eyes on her. “I can go pick up some stuff when you’re done.”
“We’ll go together like always,” Leah said tapping the pen rapidly on the table. “Now, we can’t get everything all at once. We need to forget something that we frequently use so we’ll have an excuse to go back.”
Leah put her head down. Her pen scratched the paper as she moved quickly down the page. I was glad she was taking charge because the only thing I could think of that we would absolutely need was food and water.
The second knock on the door was more startling than the first. Leah’s eyes flicked up and stayed glued to the door.
My heart skipped a beat and I felt frozen. It was like if I moved, my bones would crack, alerting to whoever was on the other side of the door that we were there.
But of course, we were there. Where else would we be?
“Your dad?” Leah mouthed.
I shrugged but went to the door. I was about to try to peek out the window when they knocked again.
“Adam, it’s me,” my dad said. “Open up.”
“Geez, Dad,” I said as I opened the door and gestured for him to come inside.
He shook off his umbrella and set it down by the door. “Cold out there today.”
“Hey, Mr. Williams,” Leah said offering him a smile.
“Hi there, Leah,” my dad said smiling right back at her. “What did I tell you about that? Call me Martin.”
I took his jacket and hung it on the hook. It felt weird to be following the rules of our life before. Be polite. Take their coat. Be a good host.
“Can I get you something to drink, dad?” I asked.
“No, but thanks,” my dad said.
“Come on in,” I said as I waved my hand toward the sofa. “Sit down.”
My dad grumbled but limped over to the sofa. He noticed me watching.
“Slipped getting out of the shower,” he said. I opened my mouth but he already knew what I was going to ask. “I’m fine. It was just an accident. Eva fixed me right up.”
“Where was she when it happened?” I asked.
Leah glanced at me from her spot at
