“Thanks for the olive branch,” I tell her, sounding snarkier than I intended, but it’s how I feel.
Kricket stands up and leaves my room, closing me inside. Since I feel like there are sets of eyes watching me every second of the day, I slip down next to my bed and face the wall as I unfold the small note and read:
None of us read the “fine print.”
Chapter 15
I was givena little slice of information from Kricket, which just thickens the plot here. I still want to leave, but the anger growing inside of me is conducting a more devious agenda at the same time.
With the clothes I have piled up in front of me, I push back toward the wall and climb under my covers, grabbing a notebook from the small desk beside me.
I jot down the facts I have:
1.All the men are lonely
2.Most seem to have a decent paying job
3.Some seem more than a little desperate
4.They all have different reasons for living here
5.No one can tell me why they’re here or what the social study involves
6.Kricket was trying to torture one with a dominatrix getup that seemed to be frightening the guy
Number six is still confusing me. With all these facts laid out, my remaining questions are what’s in it for the men, and what the research will prove in the end.
I wonder if it’s like a focus group type thing—because those usually offer something in exchange, whether monetary or something tangible.
Noah said he’s trying to keep growing his business, and a person needs money to do that.
The meaning of a study is to test a hypothesis. Therefore, if this is all true, I wonder what hypotheses they could be testing.
They’re all single men who are well-off and volunteered to live in a nice villa on the beach.
Nothing is popping up as obvious here. There are plenty of single, wealthy men living in desirable locations across the world. So, what do they all have in common?
As I’ve been making my notes, the sun has set, and the sound of voices is growing from outside my window. I perch myself up on my elbows and glance out toward the beach.
The guys have a small fire pit roaring, and I see beer and hotdogs on sticks. The scene is way more man-like than the bonfire was. It looks more natural.
I yank off my sweatshirt that’s hanging on the closet door and jog down the stairs, finding the rest of the villa empty. I didn’t hear Kricket and Krow leave, but obviously, they have. Their bedroom doors are open, so I know they aren’t locked up like usual.
As I step out the sliding door, I notice the air is cooler than it was when I got home from the carnival, but it’s pleasant and still a little balmy.
The chatter from around the fire sounds like a low roar before it seems someone notices me, which leads to silence next to the crashing waves.
“Ashley,” a couple of voices echo in unison. Why are they still excited to see me? Haven’t I made it clear none of them stand a chance?
“Hey guys,” I call out. “I wanted to come out here to let you know I’m going to be moving out tomorrow.”
Monkey wrench.
I don’t know who the sounds are coming from, but there are definite gasps of shock.
“I thought we talked about this.” I twist around in search of Kricket after hearing her voice, wondering where she is. I didn’t notice that the girls were down here.
“You talkedtome,” I correct her. “Until someone wants to let me know what’s seriously going on around here, I have no desire to stay.”
