WREN
“That’s all?” Pete asks as I blink my eyes open and look around. It’s light out now, and we seem to be parked in a motel parking lot. Not the one I’ve been staying at, though.
“We ate a lot on the journey here. Food’s not cheap,” Sly says grimly as I sit up and turn to face them.
“What’s going on?” I ask, yawning and stretching my arms and back. Dex’s eyes track my movement, amusement filling his gaze.
“We only have fifty-two dollars left, it’s not enough for a room,” Sly says glumly.
“Just drop me off at a convenience store, I’ll rob it,” Pete says as if stealing isn’t a big deal. But maybe to him it isn’t?
“What? No! You don’t need to do that, I have enough for a room.”
“You’ve got some money?” Dex asks, seeming surprised.
“Yeah, I didn't leave completely empty-handed. How much do we need?”
“For the room, we just need another thirty,” Sly says, watching me as I pull a couple of crumpled bills from my pocket and hand them over.
“Is this enough?”
He flattens them out and looks up at me. He doesn’t smile, but by the slight crinkle at the corners of his eyes, I can tell he’s pleased. For some reason, that makes me squirm as I move off Jagger’s lap to the small space between him and Dex. “Perfect. I’ll get the room so we can finally get out of this car, then we can make plans.”
“Plans?” I ask after he slips from the car and heads into the lobby.
“He means for food. We might have to do some pilfering,” Pete says with a grin.
“I could break open a vending machine?” Dex suggests.
“Do you guys always resort to crime first?” I ask, curiously.
“We need to feed you,” Pete says with a shrug.
“Is this about money again? I told you I have some.”
Jagger points through the windshield as Sly makes his way back to us with a key dangling from his fingers.
He opens the door beside Jagger, and between the two of them, they help me out onto my feet. All four of them surround me as I stretch my back, then look up… and up.
“You guys are so tall,” I say in surprise as I rub the back of my neck.
“Aw, angel, if I didn’t already love you, that comment would have sealed the deal,” Pete says with a grin.
“You—What?” I ask, my heart leaping in my chest at the use of the L word. He’s never even met me in person before.
Then again, I knew I was in love with all of them, and had been for months. Getting to know them through lettershad made me feel connected to them in a way I never had with anyone before. However, it was a lot different seeing them in person. They were so much more… real. It was a little hard to connect the men who wrote those letters with their real-life counterparts.
“Let’s not linger, come on,” Sly says, leading the way around the side of the building to room number twelve.
Jagger places his hands on my shoulders from behind as Sly unlocks the door and he and Dex enter, checking the place out first.
“It’s safe,” Sly calls, and Jagger nudges me forward.
Inside, there are two queen beds and a small table with two chairs. I wasn’t sure how we’d all fit sleeping in here, but it sure beats the car.
Pete runs to the bathroom, yelling, “Dibs!” as Sly inspects all the drawers and cupboards. The rest of us fan out and look around.
“What’s the time?” I ask, looking for a clock.
