My nerves tightened as we climbed out of the shuttle van and stretched while the driver got our bags from the back. Arden, while young, looked every part of the creepy caretaker of a haunted hotel.I hid in the back, hoping Moth wouldn't see me right away. He was talking to Tristan, who I recognized from the website. He greeted his guests warmly, throwing his arms around the women and kissing their cheeks.
"Annie! Juniper! Delaney! Where's Summer?" He frowned.
"Summer's mom pulled her funding because of the storm," Laney explained. Tristan's brown eyes flicked over to me with a hint of irritation. Laney motioned to me. "This is Priest. He's going to stay in Summer's room."
Tristan's smile waned, but he extended his hand to me. "Tristan Bridges. I'm hosting the writer's retreat."
As I began to introduce myself, I realized why Laney hesitated. We shared the same last name. While they never went through with the legal adoption process, they wanted us all to have the same surname, so hers was changed to mine when our parents got married.
"Priest McMahon." I panicked only a moment before giving him the last name of the quarterback from the 1985 Chicago Bears team, Jim McMahon.
"What do you do?" he asked with a tight smile.
"I'm a freelance fiction editor."
"Oh, you work with Laney?"
I glanced at her. She gave me a quick nod."Yes,” I answered.
Tristan sized me up. I was easily six inches taller than him. My arms were three times the size of his twigs, and if I wanted to chest bump him, I'd send him flying. He was scrawny compared to me, and that felt good. But I wasn't concerned about him. I was more worried about the other man with him.
"Well, welcome. I was so looking forward to seeing Summer produce something wonderful, but now I look forward to seeing what you do." He offered his hand again and when I shook it, this time he squeezed tight. I smiled back, pretending I didn't notice his pathetic attempt at dominance.
Grabbing our suitcases, we started up the stairs of the tall two-story brick hotel. Despite having read about its size on the website the night before, I was still surprised. Even more so now that I knew Tristan, a simple college professor, had rented it completely out for only a few people.
"How many people were invited, Tristan?" Annie asked.
"Eight. Four, including Summer, were unable to make it." The bitterness in his voice was evident.
Giggling from the back of the pack sent the hair on my neck straight up. I turned my head to see Laney beaming up at that stupid blond fuck. He looked mildly interested at best atwhatever she was saying. His eyes were more focused on her chest, which was now conveniently on display, having unzipped her winter coat. He still hadn't noticed me.
"Laney, we need to check in," I called back to her. She gave me a side eye and waved me on. I couldn't get my key without her so I stood off to the side, away from everyone. I observed them from a distance. Moth looked like a buff Tony Hawk. I had hoped I'd been mistaken outside, but there was no denying it as I stared.
He saw me watching them and started to tilt his chin when his eyes lit up with recognition.
Fuck.
I strode over and smiled tightly.
"Are you working on a book, Moth?" Laney asked him.
"I was planning on it." Moth was staring at me, his green eyes alight with a wicked interest. "But now that I'm here, I'm thinking of scrapping my original plan. I've got a new focus."
"This place is very inspiring." Laney nodded. "Maybe we can do some plotting together." She put her hand on his forearm, and it caused my eye to twitch, which Moth took in.
"Are you starting fresh this week?" he asked her.
"I am," Laney said. "I've been… saving myself… in case you wanted to work together."
Moth and I shared an identical expression as we realized just exactly what she was saying. She wasn't talking about writing.
Laney was a virgin.
Oh, fuck no.
"So, your name is Moth?" I asked, feigning ignorance, and interrupting them. I was not going to let my little sis give this douchebag her fucking V card.
"My government name is Timothy. I go by Moth. I prefer it," he explained, just like he had when we first met three years ago.That was the dumbest fucking thing I'd ever heard.
