Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
K IT
Grant isn’t letting me out of his sight after the forest. I get that. Alana is fussing about her heels that she says are ruined but she settled down when I reminded her that it was an excuse to buy new shoes. She’s been browsing sales on her phone for the past hour with a smile on her face, so I know the shoes are forgotten.
“Are you hungry?” I ask and Alana immediately nods.
“Absolutely. I saw sushi on the menu at the lodge but I really want cheese fries. Can we get both?”
“Yeah, I think we can get both easily.” I look to Grant who unfolds himself from the seat he’s taken by the door. He’s been keeping an eye on the porch and us like he’s a bodyguard in an action movie. Alana hasn’t caught on but I have. There’s someone out there he wants to keep out and that has me on edge.
Who the fuck is it?
Why are they doing this?
“I’ll call the food in,” he says and stretches.
“Couldn’t we go in and just order?” I ask. I’m itching to leave the cabin. We haven’t left since the woods and that was a good four hours ago. When Rafe gets here I don’t see it getting any better but ordering lunch could be the way out of the cabin.
Grant gives me a look that says no fucking way but I’m not going to go down without a fight.
“Please, Grant. We’ve been cooped up all day. I just–I need to stretch my legs is all.”
“Then do pilates.”
Alana laughs. “That’s a good one. He got you.”
I roll my eyes and glare at her. “Not you too.”
“Look, there’s something freaky as fuck going on around here. I think it’s a good idea to stay put. What’s with you trying to jailbreak yourself?” Alana puts her phone to the side. “You’ve been acting jumpy, too. What’s going on?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think the woman that went missing last night is enough reason for me to be jumpy, don’t you?”
She bites her bottom lip and then nods. “Yeah, that does make sense, but…”
“But what?”
“I don’t get why you don’t see that it's safer here inside.” Alana puts her hand on the edge of the sofa and leans forward. “That was seriously spooky, Kit. Someone is trying to frame you for something you didn’t do. You realize that, right?”
I shake my head. “We don’t know any of that. It’s just us guessing. Jumping to conclusions. Now, can we please just go to the lodge to order lunch because there’s nothing wrong.” My voice sounds thin to my ears but I soldier on. I’ve already gone down this road too far to backtrack now. Going back isn’t an option, even if I’m being unreasonable. Normal. That’s what I want. Because everything else is feeling out of control. Every minute that Jane is missing the world slips a little more out of sorts.
Ordering lunch at the lodge doesn’t make too much sense, I know that, but it’s the only thread to normal that I have so I grab hold of it and dig my heels in. Even when Grant gives me a stern look and I know he’s doing the math on how to keep me in the cabin without freaking Alana out. I’m one step away from throwing a fit and Grant reads that. He has to with the way he grabs my jacket off the hook beside the door and holds it up.
“Fine, let’s go. But you’re on thin ice, sweetheart.”
I eye the jacket. “I’m fine, really.”
Grant’s lips purse. “It’s raining. You put the jacket on or we go nowhere.”
He’s right. It is raining outside, par for the course in Oregon. After living in Seattle for months I’m used to it. A little rain won’t bother me but it’s not the rain. It’s Grant making sure I’m taken care of, even if I’m getting my way. I sigh and step into his space and let him help me into my jacket.
“Okay, fine.”
He turns me to face him and tips my chin up so that I’m looking at him. “Stop pouting.”
“I’m not.”
“Kit…” His voice holds a warning so I keep my mouth shut and nod.
“I’d take your side in this but you kinda deserved that.” Alana hops up off the couch and grabs an umbrella. “Let’s get a move on. I’m starved.”
The smile Grant gives her tells me he’s ready to play the hero, the picture perfect boyfriend and I relax. When he’s this version of himself, I know what he’ll do. It gives me more of the normal that I’m hungry for. I grab his hand and open the door. The second I step out onto the porch with a smile on my face I take in a deep breath and inhale the scent of damp earth. The patter of raindrops instantly makes my shoulders drop. It’s soothing outside, every little bit of it reminds me of why I wanted to get out of the cabin in the first place. But it all ends a second later when I see it.
There’s something sitting on the end of the porch. Right there on the top step, a rock sits on it, weighing it down. A slip of paper. A gust of wind makes it flutter in the wind and if it weren't for the rock I know it would fly away.
I point to the paper with a shaking finger. “What is that?” Even as I ask, I know it’s not good. Whatever it is shouldn’t be there.
“What is what?” Alana asks from behind me. Grant steps past me and sweeps me back into the cabin.
“Stay there,” he orders and heads towards the top step.
“What’s going on?” Alana grabs my arm.
“There’s something on the porch,” I tell her.
“What the fuck?” Alana whispers. She grabs my arm and pulls me back into the cabin. I let her and keep watching Grant. He stops in front of the paper and kneels to pick it up. I hear the stone roll off the top step when he does.
“What is it?” Alana calls out and I’m grateful she’s here because I don’t have my voice. I can’t ask him what it is because my knees are shaking. Fear spikes in me and I don’t know what else to do but hold on to Alana’s arm.
Grant stands and turns to me. It’s not a piece of paper in his hand, it looks too sturdy for that.
He points a finger at us. “Get back in the cabin and lock the door.”
I shake my head and move to go to him. “Grant, wait.” I don’t want to be separated from him but I know it’s not up to me when I see the look in his eyes.
It’s cold. Hard. Calculating.
My gentle and loving boyfriend isn’t here and he isn’t worried about playing the role for me. “Get in the cabin. Lock the door. Now.”
I shut the door.