So long in fact that she started to feel more than nervous.
She almost walked right up and burst right in. But just as she was about to, the door abruptly swung open. And Seth stepped out, looking surprisingly not dead in the slightest. There were no wounds anywhere, no signs that any body part was falling off. He just seemed kind of sweaty and panicked. Jittery—like something had happened that he didn’t like.
Though she couldn’t help wondering what that something might be. Or why he hadn’t checked on her the way she was checking on him. He didn’t even seem that concerned about her being here, despite how dangerous they both knew the woods might be right now.
All of which was odd behavior, for a friend.
But maybelessodd if he didn’t feel as friendly anymore. If maybe something had happened to embarrass him—like, say, his old, cool buddies sneering at the idea that she was his girlfriend. And him blurting out that thing about belonging.
God, even she couldn’t believe he’d said that thing about belonging.
He probably meant to say something less romantic-sounding, and is now mortified and certain you’re going to take it the wrong way, she thought, and oh this all fit just a little bit too well. It immediately made her think of that time in high school when she’d realized that Seth had moved on from her. She had run right up to him to gush about the latest episode ofHannibal, and he’d looked at her so awkwardly. He’d fumbled his words, as those three assholes had laughed.
And that was what this was like.
In fact, it was so much like it she couldn’t help but blurt words out.
“Look, you should just say if they made you change your mind about being friends again. Because I’m not going to wait around for your hints and weird responses to my questions this time. I won’t keep coming over and checking out how you are, while you do nothing, and then look at me like I’ve grown three heads,” she said.
And sure, it made her heart feel like it was throwing up to do it.
But it got something out of him besides this weird awkwardness. He took a step forward, expression suddenly a little more desperate. And he sounded it, too, when he spoke.
“Cassie, that’s not how I’m looking at you, that’s not—I did try to check on you—I wanted to come to—” he stuttered. But before he could finish any sentence that made sense, he seemed to jerk. Like he’d been slapped. And for some reason, he stumbled backward through the door.
Then he tried tocloseit.
All he left was an inch-wide gap to peer through.
“Okay, you know what? I gotta go. I’m sorry they mortified you with all that girlfriend talk. Maybe you’ll grow up one day and get over them teasing you out of liking me. And until then, look at me as your local pharmacist. I dispense your medicine, that’s it,” she told him, more calmly than she really felt.
Because inside, everything was screaming.
It felt like tears were bashing on the insides of her eyes. She had to turn before he saw.
But oh god, he was opening the door back up. He was calling after her. “Cassie, come on, you can’t possibly believe I would listen to those guys. I mean, they tried to kill you. They tried to kill me,” he said, and okay he had a point there.
Though maybe less of one when she put it in the context of past events.
“Maybe that was just a ruse. Part of a new prank.”
“Oh my god, it wasn’t a prank. I swear, I didn’t even know they were in town. We haven’t spoken in years, I told you,” he protested,and as he did she heard him crossing the porch. She heard him trying to come to her. So before he could do it she whirled around, ready to yell at him to stay where he was.
But she didn’t have to.
He got within thirty feet of her and justdropped. He went right to his knees, clutching his guts. Like at the gorge—only worse somehow. Way more intense. Like he was straining against something, or straining toward something, or some other action that she couldn’t quite name.
He looks hungry, she thought.
And to her shock, she got that witch tingle. The one that told her she was correct.
Even though that seemed bonkers. Because why wouldn’t he be allowed food? Was he injured in some way she couldn’t see or sense? It was possible, she supposed—and enough that she found herself taking a step forward. She reached out a hand, thinking she would help him back into the dingy old lodge behind him.
But that just seemed to make things worse.
He jerked back, eyes wide, the moment she moved toward him.
And he clutched himself again. Like being near her turned his stomach.
