“You can hit that?”
It’s not Santi who asks this. I suppress a flinch of surprise when I realize Rhett’s joined us. Three days have passed since that emotionally charged night when I dragged him from the quarry’s edge. Since then, we’ve been skirting around one another—not that we really hung out to begin with.
“Um, I used to be able to,” I reply without looking up. “I’m hoping I still can.”
I hear the flick of his lighter and a few seconds later, I’m hit with smoke from his cigarette. Neither of them say anything as I make a few more adjustments to the scope and tripod. When I’m done, my body goes still as I prepare to take the shot.
Before I do, I warn them, “Cover your ears.”
I don’t wait to see if they listen. The trigger gives under my finger, and the rifle kicks. I’m ready for it and I don’t flinch at the bullet’s discharge. I hold steady, my eye still pressed against the scope.
Wood explodes and the red circle I painted is marred with a bullet hole. Bullseye.
A victorious grin stretches across my face.
“Well, shit,” Santi whispers in awe. “That was incredible!”
With a huff, I sit up and look over at the guys. “Is there something I can help you two with?”
“Is this something you can put down for a bit?” Santi asks, his voice laced with hope as he jerks his head away from the trees to look at me. His eyes grow large and pleading as he asks, “We wanted to see if you wanted to join us on The Hunt tonight.”
Us? As in, they’llbothbe there?
I haven’t really hung out with just the two of them. The only time the three of us are in close proximity to one another is when Ledger and Wes are with us too. Given Rhett’s aversion to me, I’m not sure this is wise.
I look from Santi to Rhett—expecting him to be glowering at me from behind his friend, probably hoping I’ll decline. Instead, he looks over at me and cocks the brow with the ring in it up. With his cigarette between his lips, he waits expectantly for my answer. I don’t see or sense any hostility from him…
“Alright,” I agree, my voice low and hesitant. “If you’re sure?”
Santi’s face breaks into the brightest grin I’ve ever seen him wear. “We’re absolutely sure.”
Rhett doesn’t necessarily smile but he doesn’t glare, roll his eyes, or make a snide remark under his breath, so I guess he’s ecstatic as well.
“When do you want to leave?” I ask.
“Now?” Santi replies. His puppy dog eyes are back again as he implores me to drop everything to play with him.
I glance back at the target. It’ll be there tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. I’ll practice another time. Smiling, I look back at him.
“Okay.” I grab the gun, discharge the clip, and empty the barrel.
Santi whoops with excitement. “I’ll grab the throwing axes!”
The woods are quieterthan normal tonight.
I’m not sure if that makes them eerie or peaceful. Soon they’ll be full of screams. There’s soft sounds of conversation coming from the side of the building where Santi and Rhett are gathering the things they’ll need tonight from the back of the truck. I let them be, not wanting to step on toes and still not sure how to be around the both of them. Santi’s so handsy I’m afraid he’ll reach out to touch me and it’ll piss Rhett off. He seems like he’s in a decent mood tonight, not quite chatty but more verbose than normal and he’s cut back his glaring by at least half.
If this is what’s considered a good mood for him, I don’t want to ruin it by being in his way.
So, here I am in the dark, waiting for the sign that I can feel involved. This issouncomfortable. How do normal people navigate a situation like this? I’ve always struggled connecting with others. But this situation, where Rhett and I are sharing the same person, feels so overwhelmingly out of my know-how that it feels impossible to navigate.
Emotions well up, as they had the other night, and I can feel my heart starting to race. God, why does this feel so much like college again? I’m floundering and can’t find my footing around my peers. I wish Wes was here. He’s just so steady and he gets me.
Does it make me weak to want to continue to lean on him?
My face heats as embarrassment washes over me.Thisis why I don’t get close to people. I feel like an idiot who?—
“Cariño!” Santi calls out, his voice carrying in the woods around the small cabin.
