Page 37 of Creepy
“Are you still playing bass?”
“Yeah, I brought my bass.You still...I’m truly surprised you’re still here.”
“Well, Papa got sick, so I didn’t evacuate.”
“Oh, I mean, yeah, I’m so sorry about your Papa.He was always real good to me.Let me stay here whenever.”
He paused.He didn’t need to go on and say when his mom was strung out.I knew.
“He was a good man.”Wade took my hand and a tear from earlier resurfaced.I’d already cried all I could for Papa.“Innocent, I’m so glad you’re here.You’re alive.”
Hearing my proper name felt strange.Only Papa and Joey used it often.But I supposed Wade had been in earshot when they did.
“Joey joked about it, but we couldn’t be sure we’d find anyone, but that’s not what I meant about being surprised you’re here.”
“Oh.”
“I was sure you were staying home tonight, so you could sneak off to rescue your friend on your own.”
I guess he did know me pretty well.“I’d love to, but it’s kind of hard to rescue someone with a bum ankle.”
“This guy, he’s important to you?”
“Yeah, I only just met him, but he’s a good guy.”
“Only just met him?I thought you two were together.”
I gently took my hand from Wade and wiped my eyes.“No, we aren’t together.Not like a couple.Not like that.I mean...”It took a lot of restraint not to come out and say we slept together.“He just showed up last week around the same time Arlo did.He saved me.He’s in trouble because of me.”
“What about Arlo?”
“What about him?”I studied Wade’s face in the near dark but couldn’t tell what he meant.
“He seemed clingy.He likes you.”
“Arlo’s nice.We are not together.”
“What about Dillon?”One eyebrow flew up.
I sucked in a breath, realizing where this conversation headed.“You know what happened between Dillon and me.”
“Yet, here you are, living in this whole damn town all by your lonesome while he has an army of madmen next door.You can’t tell me Dillon is completely fine with you being here on your own.”
“I think he would rather have me here alone than with anyone else.He and I are not together anymore.Why does this feel like an interrogation?”
“If I’m going to help you rescue your friend, I need information.Besides...Well, I didn’t think you’d be alive.I’m in shock.”Wade reached out and stroked a strand of my hair.His eyes held that shock, I finally realized as he went on, “What a cruel twist of fate it would be if Arlo got to you first.When it’s I who’s always had eyes for you.”
Silence.
Speechless, I gulped.I looked away and stared at the flickering light.How cheesy would it be for me to admit, I had a crush too?
When I didn’t speak, he persisted, “Just think I thought I might have to share you with Arlo or this other bloke.”
What the hell?His words gave me pause.Presumptuous, wasn’t he?“Share me?”My voice cracked.
“I’m only joking,” he said in a rush.Wade stumbled on his words.“What I meant to say, is that I’m here and well, I don’t know how to put it.I don’t know if it’s fate or what, but I want to date you if that’s still a thing.If you’re willing.And if not, I want you to know I’m interested.That I’d take care of you.Dating or not.”
Stunned by his words, I asked, “Aren’t you with Mabel?”I’d assumed.
