Chapter 10 Tiffany #2
“Let’s head down to the lake,” Jason said.
So the Slasher could try to drown her again? Tiffany gripped her knife a little tighter.
As if he read her mind, Jason added, “Since Mikey ran off in that direction. He might’ve taken the canoe and gone to the summer camp for help.”
Tiffany shook her head. “The canoe wasn’t there when I went swimming.”
“Huh. The last renters must’ve moved it. We’ll keep an eye out for it while we look for Mikey.”
He started to make his way around the cabin, skirting the tree stump where the boys split logs. Wood chips sank into the wet soil under Tiffany’s sneakers as she caught up to him.
“If we find the canoe,” he added, “we could cross to the summer camp and use the phone, or borrow your uncle’s car.”
Tiffany bit her lip, thinking of her little sister. “I don’t want to lead Russ to the camp. Alice is there.”
“He’s already been across the lake, according to Jen.”
Tiffany’s blood ran cold. “Oh my God. What if he hurt the campers?”
Jason’s face softened, and he was his old self again.
“I’m sure Alice is fine. We would’ve noticed if something was going on there.
Anyway, a Slasher fanatic is only going to be interested in the cabin.
Or if it’s Russ, he’s just going to have a beef with the Jumpscare Society. The camp won’t be on his radar.”
He laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, like he would’ve done when they were together.
The stress of the situation overcame Tiffany in a rush. She was chilled and damp, the Virgin Carrie had unexpectedly shown up, making heart eyes at her man, and they were about to start a forced march through the woods because of fucking Mikey. And worst of all, her phone didn’t work.
She whimpered and stepped into the familiar comfort of Jason’s body, carefully tucking the paring knife into her belt before wrapping her arms around his torso.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” he said, rubbing her back with strong fingers, and Tiffany felt a little zing of triumph. She’d finally made a breakthrough. Nothing could stop him from coming back to her now, not even a treacherous little church mouse like Carrie Zhao.
Her worries melted away in his hug and she wanted to cry at how good it felt.
She’d missed him, although she’d never admit it to his face.
She’d tell Clive it was over in the morning.
Or next week, after he took her to that new tapas restaurant.
She had to keep Jason on his toes, after all.
She wasn’t just going to fall into his arms. He needed to put in more work to win her back, especially after how he’d been treating her these past few months.
Though she could give him a taste of what he was missing. A promise of what was to come, if he made the effort. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the spicy scent of his aftershave, mingling with the wet cedar from the woodpile. She stood on tiptoe and tilted her lips up for a kiss.
Only to have two firm hands grasp her shoulders and hold her at arm’s length.
Her eyes flew open, staring at Jason in astonishment. What the fuck? He’d actually pushed her away like she was a dog about to hump his leg?
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” The stony mask of the stranger he’d become slid over his face, but not before she caught a glimpse of a tempest brewing in his eyes.
It should have frightened her, but the warmth in her belly had ignited into furious heat.
No sane man had ever turned down Tiffany Podemski.
Didn’t he know how many guys would kill to be with her?
That Clive had said all his friends were jealous of him?
What the fuck was wrong with Jason? He couldn’t do better than her and he knew it.
“Good idea? You’d call a kiss from me an idea?”
“Tiff—” He heaved a weary sigh, and she couldn’t believe that he was making that noise. Like she was a nuisance!
“Is it Carrie?” she demanded.
Jason blinked. Then the mask dropped. His face blazed with something incandescent. Tiffany stepped back, the backs of her calves scraping against the tree stump, her heart suddenly beating heavily and not from desire.
“Do you even know me? Like, really know me?” Jason snarled, his fists clenching.
She felt her eyes widen, but she’d be damned if she let Jason see how scared she suddenly was of him.
“I thought I did,” she said, letting anger wash away her fear, and stalked off.
“Tiff—” Jason said.
“Stay away from me!” she yelled, picking up the pace.
Something niggled at the back of her mind, but she ignored it. The only thing that mattered was putting as much distance as possible between her and Jason. This stranger who looked like her ex-boyfriend, but with the cold eyes and hot temper.
“I’m sorry,” he called after her, although he didn’t sound very sorry. “Come on, we have to stick together!”
“I don’t need you. I can take care of myself.
” She could take care of herself, she realized.
She was in good shape. Cheerleading was more than looking pretty in a short skirt.
It took strength, agility and balance to do those complex routines.
And she had a flashlight and her new BFF, Paring Knife.
She didn’t need this Neanderthal hulking over her.
An ungrateful Neanderthal who’d rejected her advances.
He was never going to get that chance again, unless he crawled to her on his hands and knees.
Over broken glass. And nails. She’d see to that.
As Tiffany stomped into the woods, she took one last defiant glance over her shoulder to check if Jason was following. He stood by the tree stump, flashlight lowered, his stance neutral. She couldn’t believe he was just going to let her go. Well, she would make him sorry he did.
She stumbled farther into the trees, and that nagging feeling at the back of her mind finally hooked her attention. It dawned on her what had been off with the scene she’d just left, besides Jason’s stony face.
The tree stump had been clear.
The axe Jason had been splitting wood with was gone.