“I haven’t really been around others much,” I admitted.
Robby raised a brow. “Good. I like knowing exactly where you are at all times.”
“Then you must understand why I hate when you leave,” I said.
“I do,” Robby said. “But I also don’t feel like I have a lot of choices. If I refuse to help, we don’t get our coupons. And if we don’t get our coupons, we don’t get food.”
“They won’t really let anyone go hungry, would they?” I asked.
Robby looked toward the window. “Who knows?”
He took my hand and pulled me toward the bed. I watched him as he stretched his arms over his head and kicked off his shoes. He grunted as he peeled off his wet t-shirt.
“I’d be happy if I didn’t have to go back into the rain ever again, though. Had enough of being wet in my clothes to last me a lifetime,” Robby said.
“I don’t know,” I said biting my lip. “It’s not bad watching you change out of your wet clothes.”
“Hmm,” Robby said tapping his chin. “Maybe I should take you out into the rain until your clothing is soaked.”
I laughed. “Oh, what are you hinting at?”
“I wonder!” Robby laughed but it faded quickly. “There’s something I forgot to tell you.”
“Oh?” My muscles tensed.
“Yeah. I was supposed to tell Caleb and Jenna too.”
“What is it?” I asked.
Robby’s brow wrinkled. “We’ve been invited to a shindig.”
“A shindig?”
“A get-together… a party, I guess.”
“What kind of party?” I asked.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Robby said. “Some of the others in town are throwing it. I guess they want to get to know us better.”
I swallowed but my mouth was dry. “You want to go?”
“Yeah, sure. I mean, if you do,” Robby said.
“I don’t know,” I said shaking my suddenly numb hands.
“I’m sure it’ll be okay,” Robby said. “The guys who invited us, Dirk and Evan, seem like really nice guys. Normal.”
I picked at a fingernail. “It's just that I’m not sure I’m really in a partying mood.”
“Yeah, I understand that but I don’t think it would be bad to get to know some of the others,” Robby said.
“When is it?” I asked.
“Tonight,” Robby said. “If you’re okay checking it out, I should let Caleb and Jenna know.”
I clasped my hands together to stop them from being so twitchy. “Well, I guess if they want to go, I’ll go too.”
“Awesome,” Robby said with a smile.
It was a bit surprising but also totally clear… Robby wanted to go. I liked staying inside. I liked keeping to ourselves. But there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Robby.
And that included going to a party.
5
Adam
I didn’t recognize any of the four men staring at me. I felt like backing away and running but there was nowhere I could have gone.
Eva had sent them. The waiting for whatever her plans were had finally come to an end.
“Maybe we come in?” the guard in front of the other three asked. He was short, with wet, blond hair plastered to his forehead.
“What’s this regarding?” I asked.
“We just need to come in and speak to you,” the guard said.
Leah grabbed my arm and she stepped up beside me. She smiled at them but it wasn’t her real smile.
“Is everything okay?” Leah asked.
“We hope so, ma’am but we need to talk with the both of you,” the guard said. He looked at Leah and pushed his shoulders back. His cheeks turned pink as he scratched the back of his neck. “May we come in?”
“Just you or all of you?” Leah asked blinking several times.
The guard looked over his shoulder. “Probably should be all of us.”
“Oh,” Leah frowned. “Is that really necessary?”
“Well, maybe not,” the guard said gesturing at the others. “You guys check out back.”
“Are you sure, boss?” one of the guards questioned.
He nodded. “Yes.”
“But Eric,” a second guard said.
Eric, the guard, turned sharply and glared at him. “Check the perimeter. That’s an order.”
“Come in,” Leah said gesturing toward the sofa. “Would you like some coffee?”
“That’s very kind of you to offer but I’ll have to pass,” Eric said.
He stared at her as if she were the only person in the room. I was tempted to wave my hand in front of his face to see if he could even see me.
Eric sat on the edge of the sofa. He leaned forward with his hands clasped together.
“So, there have been some rumors,” Eric said.
Leah’s body tensed. I was already trying to figure out how I was going to reply.
“What kind of rumors?” Leah asked her brow wrinkling.
“Apparently, there has been someone sneaking around the resort at night. They were last seen in this area, so we’re going place to place to check the cabins and surrounding areas,” Eric said.
I crossed my arms. “If you think we’re keeping someone in our cabin.”
“What? No,” Eric said shaking his head. “We’re trying to keep you safe. We don’t know who this person is or what they want.”
“You think they got into our cabin?” Leah asked taking a step closer to me.
“We just want to make sure they haven’t,” Eric said. “I just want to make sure you’re safe, ma’am.” He hesitated slightly. “You too, sir.”
Leah grinned. “Please, don’t call me ma’am. Makes me feel ridiculously old.”
“Sorry, just trying to be polite,” Eric said.
“I’m Leah and this is Adam,” she said.
I narrowed an eye at her. She seemed to have left out the part where she referred to me as her boyfriend. It seemed intentional.
“Right, Leah,” he said clearing his throat. “And Adam. Nice to meet you both. Mind if I have a look around?”
“Sure,” I said with a shrug.
Eric didn’t move. He kept staring at Leah.
“Please,”
