Page 76 of Marked By the Pack
“Paint on my face?”
“I figured you were a painter. You have a very artsy aura about you.”
Emma smiled. “Thanks. I’m a photographer. Although I’ve exclusively been taking pictures of houses recently. I’m not sure that really counts as art.”
The last time I’d brought up auras to Emma she’d made fun of me. Why was she being so nice to this Kebe person?
“But yeah,” Emma continued. “I’ve been staying with Zoey.”
“Ugh, that’s so nice,” Kebe said. “I wish I had a friend in town that would let me crash with them. Thebed and breakfast is okay…but it doesn’t feel like home, you know?” She sighed.
“Oh yeah, I get that.” Emma looked at me and then back at Kebe. “You know what? I have an idea. I can definitely just start spending my nights at Callum’s place until the renovations are done. Zoey, you should let Kebe have my room.”
What?I knew nothing about this girl! For all I knew,shewas the serial killer from the hay maze. Although…she didn’t look like she could rip someone’s hand off.
“Oh, I don’t want to put you out,” Kebe said. “I’m fine at the bed and breakfast.”
“Yeah,” I said. “And Emma. You can’t spend every night at Callum’s place. Because ofthat thing.”
“What thing?” She tried to hide her coy smile behind her sip of wine.
“Thethingwe were talking about the other day.”
“Does your boyfriend have a small dick or something?” Kebe said.
Emma spit out her wine.
I laughed. Okay, fine. This girl was awesome.
“His dick is actually huge,” Emma said.
Kebe lifted her hand to cover her mouth from Emma. And whispered really loudly to me: “Over compensating.”
I laughed. So she wasn’t a murderous serial killer loose on the town. She was just someone that was good at sick burns. Besides, she’d only just arrived.I think.“When did you get to town?” I asked.
“Early this morning. I’ve been looking for the perfect place to settle down. I was on a road trip of sorts.Hopping around towns I’d looked up online. And Crooked Point is so quaint. And peaceful. And safe.”
Well, she was wrong about that last part. She was right about the rest though. Those were the exact reasons I’d been drawn to this town. And I wondered if she was hiding from something too.
The waitress came by and took our orders.
“I need to get this paint off my face,” Emma said. “I’ll be right back.” She left Kebe and me at the table.
I was great at small talk. But I did not need this right now. “Actually,” I said. “I need to use the restroom too. I’ll be back.” I hurried after Emma.
I opened the bathroom door. Emma was scrubbing the side of her face with a paper towel.
“What the hell?” I said.
“What?”
“Why would you bring some rando to our lunch?”
“I thought the two of you would get along.”
“Emma! I’ve been dying to talk to youaloneall morning. I ran into Bennett and he told me that the sex thing isn’t his secret. And I’m freaking the fuck out.”
“Yeah.” Emma kept trying to scrub off the paint. “I know.”
