Instead of rationality, I go with obstinacy, but something in his wording has my spine straightening. “Why not?”
“Do I have to explain it?” Walker’s question is meant to be rhetorical, but I caught what he said, and I’m not letting it go.
“You said ‘none of us.’ Meaning all four of us,” I point to each person, including myself. “I want to know why.”
“Shit.” A momentary shadow of unease flashes in Levi’s eyes.
“I told you we should’ve told her,” Santiago admonishes Walker.
“Told me what?” My mouth thins with displeasure.
Santiago spills the beans about the day before. Searching the reverend’s home, the man with the match, the fire on the lawn, and the word “hypocrite.”
My fists fly, pounding on whatever I can reach. “And you didn’t think to tell me?” Levi secures one of my wrists while Santiago secures the other, preventing me from taking out my frustrations on them.
But it’s not just that.
It’s the thought that they could’ve died, and there was nothing I could do to prevent it.
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think?” Santiago gives me a look that says he knows that I know he’s right.
And I don’t like that he’s pointing out my duplicity.
“That doesn’t matter now.” Walker’s interjection is dismissive, but at the same time, I understand that he’s encompassed in distress.
Levi and Santiago release my arms.
My mouth hangs open, stunned that he isn’t taking the opportunity to call me out like Santiago did.
Instead, Walker gives orders. “You can go shopping in the morning. Accompanied. For now, we’re staying together. Two at minimum.”
Throwing my hands up in annoyance, I complain, “You’re enforcing a buddy system? This isn’t summer camp.”
“The snow on the ground makes that apparent,” Levi murmurs shrewdly.
“If I’m not allowed to stay here at Moose Gap Lodge—” I start.
Walker rubs his fingers over his mouth uneasily as he articulates a very good point. “I don’t think Mason is willing to rent you another room after this.”
“And I’m not allowed to take any of my belongings,” I continue, “then what do you expect me to do?” My mouth is tight and grim as I eye the three men in front of me.
Santiago’s face lights up as if he just had a world-changing epiphany. “You can stay at my house.”
My head flinches backward. “What?”
“We all can.” Santiago opens his arms, gesturing to the four of us. “I have the space,” he points to Walker and Levi, “and you two are there often enough anyway.”
All these men have to do is look at me, and my willpower turns into dust. They tempt me at every turn.
The more memories I make with them, the harder it will be to walk away.
Squaring my shoulders, I level them with a cold glower. “I’m not going.”
None of them are happy with my response.
Go figure.
Walker shoots me a challenging look, Santiago’s expression promises he’ll tie me down if he has to, and Levi’s gaze sharpens to a lethal point.
