"Are you sure? We could probably stretch this a few more hours."
Where would we go? I snorted. If he had it his way, he'd take us to a hotel. He'd made his interest in me clear, and I made my non-interest just as clear. Now, paired with the sadness of having to leave one of my oldest and closest friends, I was just annoyed.
"Just take me back to that fucking camp, please," I muttered.
"You got it."
I closed my eyes, riding the wave of exhaustion. I awoke later to Swayze opening my door and pulling me out before I could protest. He carried me bridal style back to my cabin and set me in bed. I groggily thanked him.
"I appreciate you driving me around these last few days. I know my family doesn't trust me not to run. There could have been worse company." I gave him a lazy smile and stood. Georgie was at my feet wagging his tail. "I need to take him for his night walk."
"Let me come with you," he said sharply. Something about the tone in his voice and the look of panic in his eyes woke me right up.
"Why?" I grabbed Georgie's leash and snapped it on his collar. Swayze didn't answer but still followed me out. There was a party going on, but that was nothing new. Every night at Camp Frisky was a party. We were heading toward the path Georgie and I took daily through the woods when someone called my name. I turned to see who it was.
"Domino! Hold up!" A girl I didn't recognize rushed over.
Swayze stepped closer to me and put his arm around my waist, pulling me to him. I glanced up but didn't fight it.
"Grace." He nodded to her. "What do you want?" His voice was so cold it chilled me to the bone.
"Ugh, Swayze. Found your next victim? Taking her into the woods, kind of obvious, don't you think?" The pretty brunette brushed her long, shiny hair behind her shoulder. "Domino, you should come hang with us. If you're not too busy." She looked between us. My face flamed, and I opened my mouth to argue against her insinuations, but Swayze tightened his grasp on me and spoke.
"We are busy. You can go back to your friends, Grace."
Alarm bells were going off, but I wasn't sure why. Was it Grace or Swayze who was making me uneasy?
Her face fell and then turned to irritation. "Well, when you're done, the invitation is still open. Maybe you'll be up to socializing once your more basic urges are settled."
Georgie barked with impatience. She looked down in disgust. "You're bringing the dog? Jesus, Swayze, you're depraved." She spun around and hurried back to her friends.
He held onto me until she reached the bonfire.
"Who is that? She looks familiar."
"That's Grace, Dennis's little sister. Come on," he urged me into the woods. Guilt flooded me for not recognizing her right away. I remembered her now. We were in the same grade. She'd been nice to me.
"Should I say something about her brother?" I asked.
"No," Swayze said firmly. "Don't trust her. I'm not sure why she's even here."
"She seemed nice."
"She's not. None of them are. You shouldn't trust any of them, Domino."
I rolled my eyes.
"Only you, right?" I asked dryly.
"Me and Koi, yeah."
Georgie took care of his business, and I walked him back to the cabin. Swayze stood at the door with his arms crossed as I filled Georgie's water bowl.
"What?" I stood up straight. I took him in for the first time alone. Everything about him oozed 'stay away' but my brain was ignoring all of that and pleading for me to take him up on his offer.
What had his offer been exactly? To be shared between him and Koi? I breathed, pushing the inappropriate thoughts from my mind.
"You can stop undressing me with your eyes and just do it with your hands if you want. I don't mind." He snickered.
