Page 48 of Rookie Season
“You want company?” Miles offers.
“No, it’s fine. You relax.”
“Be careful out there. Who knows what those noises are.”
My feet feel weighted to the ground as I go change and tug on my jacket. As I stomp out into the snow with the women, their perky voices filling the night, I’m still thinking of Sierra and how she volunteered me for Kodashian duty.
I’m spending the next hour at least with two women who clearly enjoy my company.
Noises are the least of my worries.
13
SIERRA
I had no idea Chloe could snore so loudly.
That’s why I can’t sleep. It’s the only reason—and has nothing to do with being that close to Ryan in the hot tub—that my mind is still spinning.
You haven’t found someone worth sticking around for.
He doesn’t know anything about me. I’m taking care of myself because the one time I let myself believe I could be with someone like him, it burned me.
He’s the one with women lining up around the block. Even in the wilderness, he can’t get away from being famous.
We hooked up once.
And we were going to hook up again until he started acting like he knew me and what was best for me.
Ryan only saw what I wanted him to see—like all of them do.
I shove off the covers and stomp for the door. I get to the hallway, where there’s no more snoring. It’s mercifully quiet.
Until there’s a scratching sound outside.
It’s the same noise we heard in the woods earlier.
Could be anything. A squirrel.
Too big for a squirrel.
Larger animals wouldn’t come around the cabin. There’s no food left out, and it’s winter anyway.
What if it’s an intruder?
I stiffen.
My phone is on the nightstand. I go back and grab it even though there’s barely any reception.
I silently pick my way down the stairs. The carpet is soft on my bare feet.
There’re no more fire implements by fireplace. Did the guys take them to their rooms?
The living room is dark, only low slanted moonlight coming from one high window.
I start for the kitchen, where there are lots of sharp objects, but before I get there, the tree calls to me. There’s a pointy star we never got around to putting up. I palm it.
The sounds start up again. I take a deep breath and start for the door. This energy needs to go somewhere.
