54. Sterling
Chapter 54
Sterling
I give her hips a squeeze, and Courtney straightens up, her clothes in her arms.
“Sorry.” Her apology is a huff as she turns in my hold to face me. “Not all of us are survivalists or whatever.”
“I don’t need you to be a survivalist or whatever , but I do need you to survive.”
Her stance changes. From defiant to defeated.
And I fucking hate it.
“What just happened?” I shift closer.
She shakes her head, her braids bumping against her shoulders.
I reach out and loosely grip one of those braids, slowly dragging my hand down the length like I’ve wanted to since I first saw them.
I open my mouth to demand she tell me what she’s thinking.
“Hey! Everything okay?” Fisher shouts from somewhere in the dark.
I let the braid slip from my grip. “Go to bed, Courtney.”
Without responding, she rushes past me, disappearing into the night just as Fisher appears.
“Coulda sworn I heard someone scream,” Fisher says, looking around.
I bend to grab my flashlight and shotgun off the ground, confirming Courtney’s lack of awareness since I’m certain she didn’t even notice the firearm. “Court had a run-in with a bear.”
“Oh shit,” Fisher breathes out. “She okay?”
I want to grip him by the front of the shirt and tell him that she is none of his fucking business. But instead, I let out a chuckle that I hope sounds convincing. “She scared herself as much as she scared the damn bear.”
Fisher shakes his head. “Sounds about right.”
I dip my chin. “Turn your flashlight on.”
I know he has one on him. All the guys do.
Then I look in the direction of the Laundry Cabin.
Not a survivalist, indeed.