Pretty Prey (Ironcliff Falls #5)

CHAPTER 1

My hair is a tangled mess. The wind is causing me to look like I have birds nesting in it, but it’s totally worth it.

Our twelve-hour trek down south for this camping trip with my new Jeep’s doors and top off was nothing but amazing.

Annie and I’ve been jamming out to classic rock and enjoying the sun, while we basked in its radiant glow.

We climb out, stretching our legs.

“Only three more hours to go,” she yells over the rumble of the other half of our group’s truck.

We have two vehicles and five ladies. The three of them didn’t want to be in the Jeep anyway because they didn’t want to get sunburned, so they opted for the AC-cooled, diesel-guzzling machine.

“Scar, we’re getting a drink. Do you want anything?” Shay asks as she bends down and touches her toes.

She’s the other driver of our little pack since the truck is her dad’s. Well, he bought it, and she’s been the only one to drive it ever since.

“No thanks, I’m good!”

I pump gas while I keep an eye on the back of my open Jeep.

All our supplies and belongings are back there, so I’ve been making sure to never leave them unattended.

This often makes me the odd girl out, staying behind with the cars.

I don’t really mind though because I use the downtime to work on my scholarship essay before the deadline in two days.

Hopefully, the campground has internet, or there’s a local café with Wi-Fi I can use once I get finished with it.

Honestly, it’s my fault though. I had months to work on it, but kept putting it off until I decided what school I wanted to go to, or if I even wanted to go at all.

“I got you one of those organic energy drinks you love so much.” Annie smiles at me as she stands on her tippy toes, looking in the back of the Jeep for something.

I put the nozzle back on the gas pump and close the cap and cover.

“Thanks babe, you always know exactly what I need.” I wink at her. She blushes an adorable shade of pink, and I swoon a little more.

Annie and I’ve been playing with these unspoken feelings for each other for years now. The only time we crossed a line was a year ago when we were camping. Maybe this year’s trip will yield the same results. We shall see.

I would love to just cuddle up next to her in the tent after we get camp set up as soon as we get there.

But she had informed me she got her own single-person tent, and she would be using that instead of mine, as she’s been doing every time for the past four years.

It hurt a little. Honestly, it made me not want to go on this trip, but I promised the four of them I would go, and I couldn’t let them down.

Plus, who wants to spend the Fourth of July home alone when all your friends are away? Not me.

“Buckle up, sunshine, and don’t forget to reapply the sunblock to your nose. You’re starting to look like Rudolph.”

She flips me the middle finger with a cheese-eating grin on her face. She’s such a sassy little brat sometimes, and I fucking love it.

Three and a half hours later, we finally pull into the campground.

The sun is already going down, and we all know we’re running out of time to get our tents up before nightfall.

We jump out and head into the office to get our campsite locations.

It’s only a matter of minutes before we’re back in our cars headed in the direction the woman had marked out on the map.

“They have a lake and a pool,” Annie points to the map with excitement.

“Are you actually going to go swimming, or just sit next to the water with a book?” I quip back as the comforting smell of campfire fills my nose.

I don’t think I’ll ever grow out of my deep love for camping. If I don’t get to go every year, I'll die.

“Maybe, but I’m supposed to finish my book club book.

Oh look, they even have a waterfall.” She again points to the map with such enthusiasm.

“We have to at least check that out. Maybe we can tomorrow before all the planned festivities? Speaking of them, do you think everyone else is going to want to do the activities that they have planned, or are we going to wing it and just do what we want?”

I shrug my shoulders as I try to make my way effortlessly down the windy road without running over anything or anyone.

My biggest fear is that I’ll damage my purple beauty after I just got it six months ago for my eighteenth birthday.

I scraped together enough money to make a decent down payment and finance the rest. This car is going to take many years to pay off, but it’s worth it, at least to me it is.

I look fucking sexy as hell riding around in this thing, and it’s my dream car even if it’s slightly overpriced and impractical. I bust my ass to get everything I have, do tons of volunteer work, and get straight A’s.