Page 108 of Property of Bob

“You don’t want to eat out of our bowl?” Shay asked.

Lost sat in one of the chairs and shook his head. “No. I’m good with my own.”

“Were you an only child?” McKayla asked him.

He nodded. “Yeah. What about it?”

“That explains so much,” Pearl laughed. “Only an only child would not want to share.”

He flipped us off. “Put the movie on, and quit the yapping.”

I laughed.

Shay looked at me. “Don’t encourage him.”

Lost pointed at me. “I like her.”

“See?” I asked. “I’m fitting in already.”

Pearl finally found the movie and hit play.

For the next hour and a half, I actually managed to stop thinking about most of the shit happening in my life.

Mostly.

Shay knew half the movie by heart and had apparently decided it was her responsibility to say certain lines right before the actors did. Pearl threw popcorn at her every time she did it. Lost pretended he wasn’t interested, but twenty minutes in, he was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees watching the television.

McKayla was the quietest of all of us. Her phone was never far from her hand, and every once in a while, she’d check the screen.

I figured she was waiting for updates about Erin. I was learning there were a lot of things happening around here that weren’t my business.

At least not yet.

The door to the hallway opened before the movie ended.

I looked over automatically, and Bob rolled out first. His eyes found mine almost immediately. I lifted my eyebrows, and he gave me a small nod.

Whatever had happened in Church, he looked okay. Tired, but okay.

Anchor came out behind him, followed by Skull and the rest of the guys. The common room filled back up almost instantly.

Prime stopped when he saw the television. “That the guy you’re into?”

Shay looked over the back of the couch. “Bill Paxton? No. I’m waiting for the guy in Twisters, which is what we are watching next.”

Prime stared at her. McKayla laughed.

Bob rolled over and stopped beside the couch. His eyes moved over my face. “You didn’t disappear.”

I stared at him. “You were gone an hour and a half. And I wouldn’t have gotten very far seeing as my RV is dead, and I’m pretty sure I would just tip over if I tried to ride one of the motorcycles out of here.”

His mouth twitched. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit, doll. I’m sure you would have made it at least to the bridge.”

I rolled my eyes. “You need to rest,” I told him.

“There she is.”

“What?”