Aven
When the girl couldn’t get Jim to give up her secret admirer’s identity, she turned to me. She’s begged and pleaded all morning, but I’ll be damned if she ever learns I was the one in that ridiculous suit. Then she had the nerve to personally request another visit with him to make up for what went down. Yeah. I think not.
Jim suggested I take her into the park to enjoy some of the activities and get her mind off the stranger. He wants her to continue participating in the retreat as if she’s one of us, and he seems completely unconcerned with the attempt on her life. And whether or not he wants to admit it, what happened last night was definitely a shot taken. We conferred with Chef Maurice and learned his scampi has never contained turmeric, which means someone else put it in her dish.
What I didn’t discuss with Jim was the odd comment Quinn made about her father. It’s still eating away at me, even as she and I walk the garden trail that leads us toward the amusement park. She couldn’t have inherited an allergy from her father,because Daddy Carter has no known allergies. It’s in his profile, which I’ve read from front to back. The FBI knows everything about him, aside from his current location and appearance. The man is a chameleon of sorts, and his last confirmed sighting was over twenty years ago. But the point still stands. That would have been in his file.
I’ve wanted to ask Quinn more about it, but an opportunity hasn’t presented itself. For now, I plan to keep my ears open for anything else that raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
As we draw nearer to the amusement park’s front gates, I spot Bennett, Cat, and Eve standing by the turnstiles and chatting. I’d hoped to avoid the others and keep Quinn sequestered from their nonsense, but it appears it can’t be helped. Especially not when the girls spot us and come rushing over.
“Are you two here for the coaster demonstration or the popcorn-eating contest?” Cat asks when we meet them.
“Which were you guys attending first?” I ask.
A wide smirk slides onto Bennett’s face. “The coaster demonstration, naturally. But I suppose you and your friend are headed off to the popcorn stand, huh?”
Quinn looks up at me. “Well, we hadn’t discussed what we planned to do first, but?—”
“But we’re doing the popcorn-eating contest,” I interrupt. “Off we go. Don’t want to be late.”
“Aven, cut it out,” Quinn whispers. She snatches her arm from mine and returns to the other three. “I’d kind of like to see the coaster demonstration. Who doesn’t love thrill rides?” She grins at me over her shoulder.
The last thing I want to do is spend time in a fucking group setting. I have to find a way to get her to come with me.
“Wasn’t there someone you wanted to meet over by the popcorn stand?” I ask, hinting that I might actually reveal the identity of the green invader.
She tastes the bait and swallows the hook. “On second thought, popcorn does sound pretty good right about now. Maybe we could all meet up afterward?”
“Don’t bet on it,” Bennett mutters with a scoff.
“Of course we can.” Cat kicks Bennett in the shin with the toe of her sneaker. It isn’t a hard enough blow to hurt him, but it’s enough to shut him up. “What he said wasn’t directed at you. It’s just that...See, Aven...”
“She’s trying to find a nice way to say that I don’t play well with others,” I offer, “and she’s right. I don’t. I make no pretense otherwise.”
Quinn offers a snarky glare my way before turning on the charm for Cat. “Well, I’m sure I can convince him to join us after the popcorn thing. He doesn’t exactly have a choice. He’s required to follow me around like my cute little guard dog.” She reaches back to give my head a condescending pat.
I let it happen.
Why? I don’t fucking know, but when her hand comes back and pats my head, I’d wag my tail if I had one. This little crush is getting out of hand.
Eve looks at her watch, then glances at me before saying, “Let’s not leave it up to chance, honey. Let’s make a plan. The next round of events isn’t due to start until after lunch, so we’ll meet at the pool at one and do the next game together.”
“Okay, pal. We’ll see,” I say as I try to lead Quinn away.
“One o’clock,” Eve shouts behind us. “Don’t be late!”
Once we’re through the turnstile and into the park proper, Quinn folds her arms over her chest and looks increasingly nervous. Her green eyes dart around, and the clang of a bell nearly sends her out of her skin.
“It’s just the sound to let the bloke know he won a teddy.” I point toward the game booths, where a staffer hands a cheap red teddy bear to Ice Pick. I try to get us moving again before he notices us, but it’s too late. He comes rushing over with the bear tucked under his arm.
“Where are you two headed? The coaster or the popcorn?” he asks. “I’m headed to the popcorn event.”
I nod my head and look around, checking our surroundings for anyone who might be watching Quinn from the shadows. “Yeah. Should have figured you’d be headed that way too.”
“Here you go. I won this for you,” Ice Pick says.
I look down, thinking the squat bald man is speaking to me, but it’s Quinn’s hands that he shoves the teddy bear into. She smiles sweetly at Ice Pick and hugs the bear to her chest.
