Page 27 of The Lair

“Allie,” Charlie singsongs.

I blink. “Um, sure. I’ll think about it.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear. See you later—text me. Bye, boss!” he throws back at Travis, who, to nobody’s surprise, doesn’t answer. None of us take it personally at this point.

Charlie leaves, but his proposition stays right there, festering away in my heart. Maybe, for once, I should say yes and see what happens. He won’t force me to stay, and if I don’t drink, I can take my car and leave whenever I want. If not, I can always call a taxi.

I’m thinking about it. I really am. It has the potential to become the worst idea I’ve had to date, but it won’t hurt to try. Right?

My head and my heart are still toying with the idea when all the lights go out, reminding me that Travis and I are the only ones left at the bar. I grab my bag and watch how bear-man swallows the distance between us, heading for the door.

“Ready to go?” he asks, which catches me off guard for some reason. He’s barely looked in my direction—let alone talked to me—since we saw each other at the grocery store yesterday.

“Yep.”

We don’t speak as he locks up, and he doesn’t utter a single word as he follows me to my car. It’s parked just a couple of streets away, but I’m not dumb enough to shoo him away when he offers to walk with me at night. Why he does it, though, escapes me. He usually just waits until I get inside my car, watching me from a distance.

I give him a genuine smile as I unlock the car and toss my bag on the passenger seat. “Thank you for walking with me.”

But of course, he says the very last thing I expected him to. “Didn’t want you to walk here all by yourself. Could be dangerous.”

Forcing myself not to think about the warehouse, I ask, “In Bannport?”

The last crime to make it to the local newspaper was a robbery attempt at a gas station eight months ago, and nobody was injured because the attacker was just some college kid from the next town over who wasn’t even armed.

“Dangerous people exist everywhere,” he says, as if he’s just read my mind.

“I know that,” I concede, anxiety starting to climb up my chest.Not now. “I’ll be more careful next time.”

Having been in the military for years, I know he must have seen some heavy stuff. And… well. It feels good to know someone besides Jada and Paul cares about me like this. It’s a nice feeling.

If I expected him to leave after that, he doesn’t. Instead, he places one massive hand on the roof of my car and scans every inch and corner of the street as I get inside. Once I’m in the driver’s seat, he shuts the door for me.

I roll down the window just enough to say, “Thanks, Travis. See you tomorrow.”

He doesn’t lean down to meet my eyes, so I don’t see his face when he answers, “Drive safe, Allie.”

I don’t shiver at the way that gruff voice says my name. I’m just cold because the window is down.

Liar.

What’s new?

Chapter Nine

I don’t knowwhat I’m doing here.

When I texted Jada about coming to the pub, we both thought it would be good for me to get out of my comfort zone for a little while. If I feel unsafe or uncomfortable, I can always leave and never attend another party again. Easy.

I didn’t notice something was wrong immediately. Charlie greeted me with an eager hug and said how excited he was that I’d come. He ordered me a drink and then introduced me to a couple of his friends. They were nice enough and didn’t seem to know who I was, which put me at ease.

That is, until I remembered the reason why I’ve always avoided parties and large social gatherings like the plague.

Phones. Phones everywhere.

Pointing at faces, at drinks, at bodies, at every single corner of this place.

Breathe in, breathe out. Again. And one more time.

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