Page 24 of The Fabric of our Souls

“That’s not fair.” She stands abruptly and storms back inside.

I raise a brow and glance at Lanston. He looks tired. I wonder if he took a nap since our workout this morning. “What’s her deal?”

“Yelina is prone to outbursts. It doesn’t help that she’s in love with Liam either.”

Oh, well that makes sense.

“Why did you ignore her then? That was rude.”

Liam shrugs. “She’s annoying. I’ve never been nice to her, so it’s not my fault she’s into me.”

Lanston laughs but stops when I shoot him a warning look too.

The three of us are silent for a second before I crack a smile. Lanston elbows me playfully.

“I think that’s your first.”

“My first what?”

Liam leans to look at my face. A glimmer spreads through his eyes as he murmurs, “Your first genuine smile.”

10

Wynn

Lanston invitedme and Liam to hang out in his room tonight.

He’s one of the only people here who gets his own room. Apparently, he used to share with Yelina, but due to her bipolar behavior and his improvement, he was rewarded with the best room in the manor.

I can’t help but wonder if Jericho or the staff ever knew about Liam finding him that morning he tried to kill himself. Obviously not, I guess.Unorthodoxis a very loose term for what this place is.

Very,veryloose.

Liam’s phonedingsand he checks it immediately.

“Tell Yelina to stop trying to bone you,” Lanston jests.

“It’s not Yelina, it’s my mom,” Liam says like he’s not particularly happy about it. He shoves his phone back into the pocket of his black hoodie without responding to her.

“Popcorn?” Lanston holds out five different bags of flavored popcorn. I grin and point to the kettle corn. “No way, that’s my favorite too!” He throws a bag of kernels into the microwave and leans against the table, staring down eagerly at the board game he’s laid out for us tonight.

Liam rolls his eyes as he arranges the board. We’re playing a version of Clue that revolves around Harlow Sanctum. Good lord, who on earth thought this was a good design? It stirs up my irrational fear that this place is haunted. Why would anyone make a mystery game based around this place? Did something worthy of a slasher film happen within these walls? My mind runs rampant with everything that may have happened here.

“You don’t like popcorn?” I raise a brow at Liam. He’s been quiet since the music session this morning.

He shoots me a scowl. “Of course I like popcorn. Lanston just gets too excited when you like the same things he does.” I don’t miss his annoyed tone and the subtle way he tries to hide it by taking a gulp from his glass of water.

Lanston smirks easily at him, bringing the bowl of freshly popped kettle corn over. “Do you blame me? I’mobsessedwith her.” He winks and presses a kiss to my cheek as he sits down beside me.

My cheeks warm with his kiss and the rosé I’ve been sipping on. He has his own secret stash of alcohol, such a rebel. Lanston’s affection comes so naturally, it feels like I’ve known him forever. His smile is weightless and conversation never feels forced with him. He’s so kind and attentive, a man your parents would welcome home with open arms and hope for news of an engagement.

Liam’s expression is perfectly schooled into a blank stare, but rooming with him for a few days has taught me many things about that blank look. He’s seething beneath. Thinking better of stirring the pot, I change the subject.

“So why this creepy game?” I swirl my glass of rosé and try to catch a few pomegranate seeds with my next sip.

Lanston looks at the board like it’s beyond fascinating. “The positions of the rooms are accurate to this building. It’s rumored that the murder weapons and playable characters in the game are all based on unsolved events that happened here.”

I set my glass down and lean forward with a horrified expression. “No.”This is what those girls were talking about earlier. I did notice that poster they were talking about too, with the updated rules on checking out and staying in groups when leaving the grounds.

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