Page 156 of Did They Break You

FORTY-TWO

REMI

I tossand turn in the little tent and think about going inside. But it’s so quiet out here, so peaceful, it’s just my own mind that’s scaring me.

And I know it.

Van and Ryann thought it would be cool if we pitched tents in the backyard and she had two, so we did.

Theirs isn’t far from mine, and they offered to let me sleep in theirs, but I wanted to give them their space. And after what Cortland and I did in his truck, I don’t think he’d like if I slept with them.

The thought makes me smile in the dark under my sleeping bag as I roll onto my side. I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel, the first time we had sexalonebeing in his truck. And we don’t even get to spend the night together afterward, but I push all those feelings aside.

My phone buzzes under my pillow and I pull it out, smiling as I see Sloane’s name.

Sloane <3

Don’t kill me but I think I’m staying til Tuesday and I’ll be there in the afternoon?

I bite my lip, wondering if Cortland would want to hang out another night, when me and Van get back tomorrow.

Enjoy it. Miss you. Love you.

Sloane <3

I hope you’re having fun and socializing. Goodnight Rems xxx

Underneath my smile at her love, I feel that guilt still twisting in my stomach. I shove my phone back under my pillow, my pulse elevated.

I close my eyes anyway, trying to bury it all for now. This thing between me and Cortland will never work, and it’ll probably end soon, then it won’t matter that I never told Sloane.

Best not to even go there.

With those thoughts, I try to drift off into sleep, knowing I need it.

But then I hear it.

A crunch of gravel. Like beneath a pair of shoes.

My heart freezes.

I blink in the dark, wanting to grab the phone under my pillow but if I do, someone could see the light.

I hold my breath, waiting. I know it wasn’t Van or Ryann because after their moans and heavy breathing, I’ve only heard silence from their tent. And besides, I would’ve noticed the sound of them unzipping the tent.

I curl into a ball in my sleeping bag, sliding my hand under my pillow and closing my fingers tight around my phone.

If it’s anyone, I’ll just scream. Van and Ryann will hear me. But this is a campground. Maybe someone is drunk and lost. Or just drunk.

Then I hear another sound. Closer. A branch snapping.

My mouth goes dry and I glance around the dark walls of the tent, trying to see shadows. But there’s no light in here or out there.

I swallow down my fear, straining my ears, my palm sweaty on my phone.

For a moment, there’s only the sound of my own pulse in my ears.

I start to breathe a little easier. It could’ve been an animal. It was probably nothing at all.

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