Page 71 of Could Have Been Us
I start to back toward the tent and the shotgun I’m pretty sure Jack told me is in there.
I probably should’ve asked more about why he felt the need to carry a gun out here, but I was trying to put on a brave face.
Stupid that.
I take another step, listening to the sounds behind me too. “Jaccccck!” I say again.
Finally, I hear the tent zipper open, and Jack emerges with a lantern. “Stella?”
“Jack, there’s something in the woods.” I rush toward him.
He pulls me to his chest. “Where?”
“In the woods! I don’t know where.”
“Did you see it?”
I nod. “It was huge. It has to be because it was breaking trees down as it walked.”
“Trees?”
It sounded like it. “Maybe small ones.”
He looks around, scanning the area with an intensity that would be sexy if we weren’t about to be eaten by a bear-lion thing that knocked down trees. He pushes me behind him, head turning to me. “Are you wearing pants?”
“Are you seriously asking that when Yogi is out there, wanting his version of a human picnic basket?”
“Stella, I’ve been on hundreds of camping trips and have only seen a bear once.”
“What?” I screech. “You brought me out here when there are bears?”
“Go in the tent. I’ll look around.”
That would be great, but I still really have to pee. “Jack, I . . . I need to use the restroom.”
He laughs once, and then the sound of something in the woods happens again. Within a heartbeat, Jack has me behind him and is walking me backward toward the tent. The light slashes through the inky darkness, and I can feel the tension in his muscles.
The light reflects, and I tap his shoulders. “There!” Two eyes are shining back at us. “I love you. I’m sorry I had to pee,” I say as my last words.
It moves closer. It’s a bear or a wolf or a lion or maybe some mutant version of the three. That’s it. I’m going to die the first time I experienced nature.
The animal stalks closer as he moves us back with each step.
Then three things happen almost at the same time.
The killer emerges.
I scream.
And Jack bursts out laughing as I realize my killer is a deer.
I really hate nature.
Chapter 20
Stella
My four siblings and I are seated in my father’s study. It’s the day. The day we’re going to all walk out of our jobs, inheritance, and his life.
