I grabbed my drink from my refrigerator and tried to steady my breathing while the check burned in my pocket. I’d eat breakfast, text Reese, then go for my walk.
What I needed was structure and routine, not cryptic men with boundary issues.
I stretched my calves as I stood at the lake’s edge. The water lapped gently against the shore, creating a soothing rhythm that matched my breathing. For the first time in days, my body and mind felt relaxed.
The walk had been exactly what I needed. Two hours of nothing but trees, the lake, and the occasional glimpse of a deer between the pines. No naked forest men, no mysterious knives, no grumpy men with invasive questions.
I bent down to pick up a stone, turning it over in my palm before skipping it across the water’s surface. Three hops before it sank. I reached for another, but my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out, squinting against the sun’s reflection on the screen.
Reese: Sorry I missed you! I can meet you at the trailer if you want to talk.
I’d been walking longer than I realized. The thought of returning to Wings End made my stomach twist, but I couldn’t avoid the place forever. I lived there now, at least temporarily.
Me: On my way.
The walk back was quick, my pace quickening with each step as I mentally rehearsed what I wanted to say. By the time I reached my trailer, I’d worked myself into a state of simmering irritation.
Reese sat in an Adirondack chair, scrolling on her phone. She looked up as I approached, her smile faltering slightly when she saw my expression. “Everything okay?”
I pointed at the office. “Whoever was manning the desk earlier needs to be fired because what wasthat?”
Reese’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, you must have met Zarek.”
“Is that his name? The guy with the serial killer stare?”
She laughed. “Yeah, that’s Zarek. He’s... like that.”
“Like what? Invasive? Intimidating? Completely lacking in social skills?”
“All of the above.” She shrugged. “He grows on you.”
“Like mold, I’m sure.” I crossed my arms. “What’s going on around here, and why does everyone feel like they’re keeping a secret?”
Reese’s smile disappeared entirely. Her posture shifted, becoming more careful and guarded. “What do you mean?”
“Lucan showing up with some ridiculous story. That Zarek guy interrogating me about my camping trip like I’d committed a crime. It feels like I’ve stumbled into some weird cult compound where everyone knows the rules except me.”
Reese tucked her hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture that told me more than her words. “We’re a tight-knit group. Sometimes that can feel exclusive.”
“This is more than exclusive. This is weird.” I pulled the check out of my pocket. “And this? This is crossing a line.”
Reese’s eyes widened at the sight of the crumpled paper. “Is that a check?”
“Yes. Lucan slipped it through my door after I explicitly told him no.”
Reese stood and took the check from me. “Are you sure you don’t want this? It could help you get back on your feet.”
“I’m not sure of anything right now, and it’s suspicious.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I can’t accept a check that feels like a fast track to a Dateline episode.”
She held the check between her fingers, hesitating. “Lucan isn’t?—”
“Please,” I interrupted, “just give it back to him. Tell him I appreciate the gesture, but I’m not comfortable with it. I should give him the knife back too, but maybe that’s the consequence for him being...” I couldn’t think of the word to adequately describe him.
Reese nodded slowly, tucking the check into her pocket. “I’ll make sure he gets it, and you should definitely keep the knife.”
I turned toward the trailer, suddenly exhausted. “Thank you.”
