He doesn’t get to come into my life and make me think that maybe I’m worth something, maybe I’m worthsaving…
Honestly, it’s his fault that I back away from the bedroom door and his conversation, my mind swirling and my body moving almost of its own volition.
My heart is hammering in my chest, and I don’t think when I grab my phone off the counter. It’s only had a few minutes to charge, but that should be more than enough. While Streeter is still in the other room, I slip outside and punch in Quill’s number. He’s the only person I can think to call.
“Shit, Remi. I’ve been trying to call you fordays. Are you okay?” The concern in his voice makes tears spring into my eyes,because logically I should tell him no, I’m not okay. I’m on a mountain with someone whokilled a bunch of people, and I might have fallen in love… and now he’s talking aboutgetting rid of the evidenceandtaking careof me and I…
“I’m fine.” The lie comes out, and at least I think it sounds smooth. “I just… it’s a long story. Trevor is an asshole.” That sounds more honest. “Can you… can you maybe come get me?”
I’m still not willing to go fish the keys out of Trevor’s pocket, cliff or no cliff. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to think about the pile of dead bodies under the snow.
I just need to getawayfrom this cabin, because I realize something with absolute certainty…
It doesn’t matter if Streeter was talking about killing me or not, and it doesn’t matter if his friend told him he needed to make sure that all the witnesses were taken care of.
I don’t want him to get into trouble.
I don’t want him to get hurt.
I want…
“Remi?” Quill’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “I can’t come anywhere if you don’t tell me where you are. I know that asshole was taking you to the mountains, but that’s about it. I swear to fuck if he hurt you, I’m going to throw him off a cliff.”
A sharp laugh tears from my chest, and it breaks off on a choked little sob as I start walking through the snow, shivering, aware that I only have on a thin sweater and it’s still fucking freezing out here even though the snow is starting to melt. “I’m fine.”
“Remi—” The concern in his voice is too much. If I have to hear Quill asking me what’s wrong, I’m going to end up spilling my guts.
“I promise, I’m okay.” I cut him off. “I’ll text you the address, okay?”
I hang up as he starts to call me out on my obvious lie and let out a small, shuddery breath.
My eyes flick back to the cabin, to the boarded-up window… and I wonder how long it’s going to take Streeter to notice I’m missing.
Hopefully long enough that I can get to one of the other cabins—I need to give Quill an address that won’t lead him straight to the murderer I’m running from. I need to give Streeter all the space he needs to clean up after everything that happened.
As I start trudging through the snow, I let out a soft sigh.
Third act breakup bullshit. That’s exactly what this is. When I asked Streeter to reenact a book with me, this wasn’t what I had in mind… but I realize as I half slide down the driveway that those usually have a way of working out.
And even though I’m pretty sure he was just listening to his friend talking about killing and dismembering me, I’m already thinking of a way I can see him again.
I know where he works.
I know that he lives in this town.
Maybe…
Well, shit. Maybe if I run into him in public…
Maybe if I find him again at his job…
My stomach clenches, and I shiver as the wind whips through my hair, sending dark strands into my gaze and reminding me again that I’m really not dressed for this weather.
It doesn’t matter—my eyes are hot with unshed tears and my heart is pounding hard enough to keep me warm while I think. I’ll go a few cabins down and wait for Quill to come get me, and I’ll talk to the people we rented the cabin from so they don’t send anyone up here to see if we’re squatting. That should give Streeter time to get things cleaned up.
I have no idea what I’m going to say when people realize Trevor is missing, but I can figure it out. I…
I want to protect Streeter. If I do, I can figure out how to see him again. Maybe if I wait a few weeks, he’ll realize that he’s safe with me.
