The lights above my head shut off, and I look around to make sure there isn’t a power outage or something. Thankfully, the lights further down the row are still on.
Huh… I’ll be sure to tell an employee they need to be replaced.
A cool breeze snakes up my spine, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up, and I suddenly realize that I can’thear children playing anymore. Unease propels me to the next row over. When I get there, the lights flicker back on.
They must have a bad fuse or something.
I clip two more trees, a regular one and a tall one, and move over another aisle. The Christmas lights for the entire row shut off, then I hear footsteps and the rustling of branches.
Little seeds of apprehension take root in my stomach. “Hello?”
Nothing.
Huh. Weird.
Turning the corner, a strange crunching sound comes from under my boot. I shift my foot and crouch down to get a closer look.
Binder clips…a lot of them.
“Savannah!”
My attention snaps in the direction of my name.
“Savannah, are you over here?” Rory yells.
Releasing a shaky exhale, my hands unclench. I hadn’t realized I’d made them into fists.
“I’m here!” I shout back.
“Where?” Hunter bellows.
“Here!” I move a few feet, hoping I’m going in the right direction.
“Stay where you are,” Luke instructs.
“Marco!” Rory calls.
A smile takes over my face. “Polo!”
We go back and forth a few times, then Rory appears at the end of the row. I run for him, and he wraps his arms around my waist, nipping at my neck. “Gotcha.”
Luke and Hunter appear as well. Hunter carries two travel mugs in his hands. “I got you hot cocoa, but it might be cold by now. It took us forever and a day to find you.”
Luke motions with his arm. “Why did you come all the way out here?”
“Sorry, I didn’t realize how far away I’d wandered. But hey! I found a ton of trees.”
“We’re getting them all,” Rory declares.
The guys begin to bicker. It seems they didn’t come any closer to picking a tree in my absence.
I crane my neck, looking for the binder clips so I can pick them up, but they’re not there anymore.
I must be seeing things. I need to get some sleep.
CHAPTER 43
LUKE
