Page 21 of In The Dark
Hell, she probably knows exactly who he is, but it feels like the second I admit this thing actually happened, that will be it. It’ll give up the illusion I’ve created, and I want to keep the idea of maybe meeting him again somewhere down the road as a possibility for a little while longer.
I don’t need to hear his story. I don’t need to find out that he’s a playboy or a womanizer who picks a new victim every night. By keeping my mouth shut, I can pretend I’m one of a kind. I can pretend he’s somewhere thinking about me right now, even though I doubt he remembers my name.
“Right back at you, Sky.” I toss a T-shirt her way. “How are things going with your archnemesis? I don’t see you in a cast, which means he hasn’t dropped you during the show yet. That’s encouraging.”
“He’s as obnoxious as ever.” She huffs and pulls on the shirt, pivoting in front of the mirror. “He walks around like he’s god’sgift to the earth, and I justknowhe has the world’s smallest dick.”
“There’s an idea. Hate sex sounds like it would be a blast.”
“Don’t make me barf.” Skyler gags. “Speaking of the show, a lot of the people in entertainment are having a bash at one of the bars outside Adventure Oasis next Tuesday. There’s no Fright Nights, the drinks are free, and it’s going to be really fun. Want to be my plus one?”
Entertainment.
Hunter is in entertainment.
Will he be there?
My heart races, and I do my best to keep my cheeks from turning bright red.
“I’d love that. What’s the theme?” I ask. “I’ll try to pull something from my closet this weekend or make a run to the thrift store.”
“Sinners and devils,” she says. “Very dark, very kinky, and I already have my outfit picked out. It’s our last hoorah before Fright Nights gets too busy for the rest of the season. We go from five shows a night to six, and when I come home, I’m so depleted.”
“Remember last year when I had to get ice for your knees at three in the morning because you were so tired? You were curled up on the sofa in so much pain.”
“I refuse for that to happen again. I’ve been running six miles on the treadmill to build my stamina. I will not be defeated by a stunt show, even if my twenty-eight-year-old ass is starting to feel ancient.”
“At least you’re hot with a smoking body,” I say. “And almost late. Don’t you need to leave soon?”
“Shit. I should’ve left ten minutes ago.” Skyler dumps her makeup bag in her duffle and tosses in her hairbrush and a change of clothes. “I’ll see you in the morning, my sweet Max.”
“Tell Dustin I say hi. And don’t overthink things. You deserve it, remember?”
“I remember.” She flips her hair over her shoulder and slides on her sandals. “Love you.”
“Love you more,” I tell her, and but it doesn’t get rid of the anxiousness I’m feeling.
EIGHT
HUNTER
“Beer?”
Leo holds a drink my way, and I shake my head.
“Nah. I’m good with water tonight.”
“You’re going soft on me, Wilder.” He sits next to me on the couch and sighs. “You know I love our scare actor gig, but spending an evening with my best friend watching playoff baseball is my idea of a good time. How you convinced Janey to give us a Saturday night off, I’m not sure, but I’m not going to argue.”
“Sold my soul to the devil. I consider it being a team player. There are guys who aren’t getting a ton of shifts, while you and I are pushing fifty hours a week. Now we’re sharing the love.” I grin. “Dropping the dreadedovertimeword helps too.”
“Such a generous mother fucker compared to the multi-billion dollar company who is terrified to overspend.” He flips on the television and yawns. “They should be giving you the Nobel Peace Prize any day now.”
“I deserve it for losing the hearing in my right ear over the years. And putting up with your ass.”
“Easy, Hunt. If you want me to tell you about your haunted house girl, you’ll have to be nice to me.”
I sit up straight. I grab the remote from him and mute the baseball game. “You found out who she is?”
