Page 58 of Captive of Outlaws
“Nothing,” Will says. “Tuck’ll take you up.”
I nod. “‘Kay.”
I shuffle up and follow Tuck to the stairs and the hallway near my room. When we reach my door, I turn to take him in—this sweet, adorable guy who seems just a little bit flustered to be escorting me to my sleeping quarters. He’s like a golden retriever...in the body of an underwear model.
I can’t resist. I swoop in and peck him on the cheek.
As predicted, Tuck’s eyes go wide. His lips part just a little in shock, and I internally relish how bashful he looks.
“Thanks,” I say. “Appreciate the escort home.”
“I...of course.” Tuck swallows, smiles. “Night, Maren. Sleep well.”
As I settle onto the pillow, I realize that’s the first time in ages anyone has actually wished me good night.
Chapter Fifteen
WHEN I WAKE UP, THEbirds are already chirping, there’s a bright beam of sunlight slicing across my bed, and I can smell coffee and hear voices from downstairs.
I stretch, luxuriating just a bit in the comfort of my bed. My smartphone screen says 10:08—the latest I’ve slept in, I don’t know, ever? Back at Uncle John’s, I’d have to be awake and in the kitchen by 7:30 at the latest, cracking eggs and frying bacon for both of our breakfasts. This ability to wake up whenever I want isn’t a freedom I’d even dreamed of...but now that I have it, it’s hard to resist.
I slip into another of Jack’s outfits—a Johnny Cash T-shirt and cut-off shorts, no doubt artfully shredded by the designers as opposed to hacked off with scissors—and head down the stairs, resisting the urge to slide down the banister at the end.
I’m in a good mood, I realize. It’s been a long while since that’s been the case.
“You’re absolutely, incurably, totally and utterly stupid.”
Will’s arms are folded over his chest as he stares down Rob, who’s sitting with his feet propped on the kitchen table and his arms behind his head.
“Really?” Rob says. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
I pause in the entryway. “Am I...interrupting something?”
“There’s always something to interrupt with these guys.” That’s Tuck, sidling up to me from the other side of the island. “Sleep okay, Maren?”
I nod. “Like a dream.” I eyeball Will and Rob, who indeed appear to be in some kind of standoff. “What’s going on here?”
Tuck sighs. “It’s a long story.”
“No,” Will butts in. “It isn’t. It’s a short one, because he’s not going. We’re not going,” he amends. “Period.”
“Come on, Scarlet,” Rob says. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Smothered out by my sense of...common sense,” Will says. “Which is telling me this would be a beyond terrible idea. You’d be throwing all of us right into the lion’s den.”
“Like we can’t handle a couple of lions?” Rob says. “And lions? Seriously? I think that’s giving the boys in beige way too much credit.”
I grab myself a cup of coffee and survey the scene from the sidelines. “What’s going on?” I stage-whisper to Tuck. “I need context.”
Tuck grimaces. “So—”
“Don’t,” Will says, pivoting to Tuck. “Don’t even. It doesn’t matter what’s going on because it is. Not. Happening.”
“Hey,” I protest. “I have a right to know why all my housemates are griping at each other, don’t I?”
It’s the first time I’ve referred to them as housemates. Ididn’t even realize I thought of them that way until the words escaped my lips. But...there you go, I guess. And none of them seem to mind.
Will sighs, his shoulders slumped. “Fine,” he says. “Explain to her. But she’ll immediately see why I’m right.”
