Page 34 of Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets

“I slept fine.” The lie comes out hoarse. I clear my throat. “Barely even knew she was there.”

The last thing I need is for Grant to learn my suspicions about Noah. Not while we’re up here. I need a plan, some way to find out what Noah knows about the day Piper fell. There’s definitely something he doesn’t want Jacey or me to uncover.

“Good,” Grant says in a sexy-gruff morning voice. I bury my cheek in his chest. His body feels warm in the frigid mountain air, and his usual spice-tinged deodorant scent mingles with the smoke and pine smells now embedded in his sweatshirt.

“Anything from your parents?” Grant asks.

“I told you,” I mumble into his shoulder, “I don’t have reception.”

He doesn’t answer. I feel the tension in his arms as he releases me, giving me a peck on the cheek before wandering off toward the cooking gear.

My eyes sting, and I fight off tears. Grant is judging me for not staying home with my family. What would he think if he knew the rest?

“Savannah.”

I look up to see him shaking a packet of oatmeal in front of me. “I asked if you want me to mix you up some of this gourmet breakfast.”

I’m not hungry, but I know I should eat my instant mush. “Yeah, thanks,” I say, trying to smile.

I take a seat in the dirt and wait for Grant to return with my oatmeal. Across camp, Jacey shares a fallen log with Noah. Apparently, she’s chosen to ignore my warning.

I’m not sure I blame her. The Noah I grew up with never would’ve threatened us. Never would’ve threatened Piper.

Still, I found him there in the woods. Can I really believe his story about stumbling across the paint can while chasing someone else?

I scan the other side of camp, where Alexandra is chatting with Sam and Abby as they wait for their Jetboil to heat up. Tyler catches my gaze and motions me over to the fire. “I’m good,” I mouth.

“You look like you could use some warming up,” he calls out, patting the spot next to him.

“Funny.” Like I’m going to buddy up with Tyler in front of Grant, especially after yesterday’s turf war. I turn my head away, but a moment later, feet shuffle beside me. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch of glint of metal.

I groan. “Don’t you have small animals to torture?”

“That wouldn’t be nearly as fulfilling as torturing you.” He plops down in the dirt beside me.

“Seriously, though. What’s with the chains?” He shrugs, which makes me more curious. “Are they weapons? Ooh, is that the reason you’re really here? Being in this club is punishment for some sort of crime, right?”

Tyler’s eyes narrow, and the irony of my accusation hits me like a kick to the shin.

Grant starts making his way toward us with my breakfast, and Tyler takes it as his cue to leave. He stands, dusts off his pants, and slinks away to join the others.

“What was that about?” Grant asks, handing me a bowl.

“Nothing. No coffee?” I ask, just to change the subject.

“Sorry, the mountaintop Starbucks is fresh out.”

“What’s the plan for today?”

Grant looks at me delicately, like I might detonate. “We’re kind of waiting on you, babe. Mr. Davis said we’ll move out as soon as you get something to eat. Up to the falls.”

“Fun.” I blow on my oatmeal and take the slowest bite ever.

He kisses me on the head. “I’ll tell him you’ll be ready in five.”

***

The sun is out as we hike up to the falls, following Sam, our honorary guide. Grant and I remove our sweatshirts and stuff them into our packs. A light breeze kicks up the pine needles and cools the sweat beading up on the back of my neck. A couple of hours in, the sound of rushing water covers our footsteps. I push through the final line of trees, and the waterfall bursts into view.

---