Chapter 7
CHAPTER
SEVEN
The sun shines through the tent, and I shield my eyes with my hands, abruptly turning over so my face is in the pillow to block the sun.
For as long as I can remember, I have always been a morning person, but this hangover is absolute agony, and it feels like someone has taken a hammer to my head.
Out of nowhere, Ryan hops up on the truck’s tire and pokes his head in the tent’s window that he must have already unzipped. In a chipper tone, he says, “Morning, beautiful,” as he holds out a steaming mug of coffee.
The aroma of it seeps into the tent, and I squint my eyes at it, gaping at the delicious liquid that many could argue is just about as good as sex.
I extend my arm, wanting to snatch it from him like a feral animal, but I gently take hold of the handle and bottom of the cup, bringing it to my face.
My mood improves right away.
“You’re one of a kind,” I declare, my voice scratchy.
Knocking my leg, he says, “Hurry up and get dressed. We need to get out to the lake. I’m heading out there now.
All you have to do is go west from where we are, and there are some signs; you can’t miss them.
I have to get my lures ready.” He leans in, planting a wet kiss on my cheek, he adds, “See you in a few, you divine creature.”
He drops down and bangs the side of his truck with his fist twice, signaling to me he’s leaving.
I grimace, annoyed at the idea of fishing while the sun blares over us with this horrible hangover. My mind comes up blank for anything worse.
While sipping my coffee and reveling in its taste, my eyes adjust to the sun.
After downing my coffee, I feel a brisk chill and wrap my arms around myself, mentally reminding myself to pack a jacket.
Deciding to brush my teeth, I scan the tent for my bathroom bag and gather some hygiene wipes to scrub myself down so I don’t smell like a sweaty distillery. This kind of camping is not for the faint of heart. I’m beginning to fantasize about hot showers and toilets.
The whole primitive camping thing this week will be my first and last time; there’s no way I’m agreeing to this again. We could’ve stayed closer to the community areas, but that’s not camping to Ryan.
I roll my eyes and suppress a laugh, thinking that I really hope Ryan loves natural body scents because after about a week of this, the stench coming from us will unnerve people.
As I step into new underwear and thermals, I hold my bag of toiletries tightly to my chest and guard it with my life.
Yes, I know it’s Florida, but I’m freezing all the time. I would never survive snowy weather. I shiver at the mere thought.
Climbing out of the tent, my feet hit the ground.
“Well, you don’t look too bad after last night,” a familiar voice taunts.
My stomach bottoms out as I jerk around and see Jared before me, picking his teeth with a Swiss knife.
Deep breaths, Marley, you can’t let these weirdos think they have the upper hand on you.
“Coffee will do that.” I shrug, eyeing him up and down, startled by his presence.
“Be a good neighbor and make me a cup.” He clicks his teeth as he continues picking at them with the knife.
I swallow, my heartbeat beginning to race. “Sure thing, how do you like it?” I ask, my words barely steady as my voice wavers.
“Black,” he says breathily.
I walk over to our little heater and see the water is still hot, so I fill up a mug and add spoonfuls of the instant coffee mix, stirring it with one of the spoons.
Turning around on my heels, I run right into him, and the coffee goes all over his naked chest.
“Oh my god!” I let out a shout, my eyes widening in shock.
“What a mess you’ve made.” Jared pins me with his gaze as his skin turns bright red before my eyes from the burn.
I sprint over to grab a towel and ice from our cooler, and I hurriedly pat him down.
In a flash, Jared seizes my wrists, and the ice and towel drop to the ground. He squeezes them harder, watching my face to get a reaction out of me.
“Jared, you’re hurting me,” I whimper, struggling to free my wrists.
Gripping them with more force, he backs me up into the side of the truck as I wince.
“I bet little whores like you love pain,” he grits, grinding his bulge against my pelvis.
He’s obviously trying to scare me, so I decide to switch my character, and I push back with my pelvis, grinding right back against him.
“Who doesn’t like pain with pleasure?” I ask him inquisitively.
Shock cuts across his face but only momentarily.
He leverages his weight on the truck with both of his hands, releasing my wrists. “Oh, Marley, you are one hell of a neighbor.”
My eyes stay locked on his as I massage my wrists, and I fake a laugh.
He pats the truck. “Stop wasting time; let’s go fishing.” He grins sinisterly at me.
Urgently searching for something, he locates it. Throwing the shoulder strap of his bag on, he embraces me by wrapping his arm around my shoulder, holding me closer to him. “We are going to have such a great time together.” He jostles me roughly a few times for emphasis.
“You should go ahead without me. I still have to brush my teeth and throw my hair up,” I suggest, plastering a large smile on my face.
He takes in the sight of me with a haunting look in his eyes. “Alright, I’ll go help Ryan set up the lures. See you in a few…neighbor?”
Wordlessly, I nod, desperately hoping he doesn’t see me shuddering.
He strides toward the lake, and I linger a few moments until his head is barely visible in the distance.
Lunging for the truck at full speed, I scramble inside and lock the doors.
I take a steadying breath as my hands clam up and won’t stop shaking.
What the fuck?
Finding my phone in one of the bags, I check it, only to find that there’s still no service.