Or was Shane right? Was Zoey just a fling? A one-off?
Krista’s anger spiked. So much for thinking Ryan was a close friend. He wasn’t telling her anything, so she ignored his questions and messaged him back with the single line of truth she could manage.
>Having a great time. See you all at Calgary Airport on Sunday for the flight home.
“All” meant the rest of their co-workers. She didn’t want Ryan to get the impression that he was still the focus of her attention, nor that she was still the same old faithful Krista who’d come running the moment he called. She sent her message then texted Lisa to tell her what had happened and where she was.
Lisa’s reply came through immediately.
>Ryan and Zoey!!! You serious?
>I saw them together. Kissing. Ryan is now in the past.
She told Lisa about Shane asking her along on his hiking tour.
>Just the two of you? Well, hello stranger and what have you done with my sister?
>What do you mean?
>As if you don’t know? Shane McDermit is yummy!
Okay. Well, sure. Shane didn’t have two heads and a wart on the end of his nose, and all right, he was handsome if you liked fair-haired jock types. But Krista didn’t. She preferred dark, artistic-looking men, with warm, soft centers and kind, gentle natures. Like her first long-term boyfriend, Eric, and well, also like Ryan—for whatever good that did her.
>So you’re all alone in the woods? Just you and Shane... However will you pass the time?
>Get your mind out of the gutter. It’s not like that between us.
>Oh, please. Why not?
>Because we’re just friends. That’s why.
Then another a message popped up from Lisa.
>He can be your rebound guy.
Krista sighed. Lisa always thought men should be used in some way.
>No. We’re friends!!!
>Okay, if you say so. Have fun in the woods, then...sounds very Blair Witch Project.
Oh, man.Why did Lisa have to bring up the one film that had kept Krista awake for weeks!? And even the series of laugh out loud emojis Lisa had tagged on to the end of that last messaged didn’t smooth out the hairs at the back of Krista’s neck. She shivered. That stupid film had haunted her for weeks after she’d been coerced into watching it—and others like it—last Halloween. She’d wanted to watch a sweet and fluffy rom-com, but as usual, she’d gone along with what everyone else, including Ryan, had wanted.
She texted Lisa back.
>It’s nothing like The Blair Witch Project here. I’ll be in touch in a few days.
Krista then texted her mom, told her where she was, and quickly switched off her phone. She placed it back in the glove box then pressed her face against the car window and peered at the forest surrounding her. Trees stuck out like bones from the ground and loomed dark against the night sky.What if someone came out from the shadows?Her pulse picked up.What if they heard someone screaming in the distance?
Scenes from the film flashed before her, and her heart hammered in her chest, her imagination running wild.
A knock on the window made her scream.
“Oops. Did I scare you?” Shane chuckled.
Jesus Murphy!Krista blew out a breath and got out of the car, pushing Shane—who was still laughing—aside with the door.
“Hey,” he said. “Doesn’t this place remind you of those horror films?” He shone his flashlight into the trees. “You know, where a group of teenagers tell ghost stories around a campfire, and then one goes missing and—”
