We were going to have to talk about that.
Kat’s lips formed a sheepish grin. She turned back around, the edges of her hair teasing the top of her chair. Took no amount of imagination to remember how soft her hair felt between my fingers. Like silk.
Sitting back in my chair, I swallowed a groan. Damn. This was going to be a long day.
I ended up catching up with Kat after school. That damn human boy had been her at ass at lunch. I waited for her at her locker, sort of surprised that she wasn’t giving me crap about being there. Baby steps in the right direction?
Holding the door open for her, we stepped out into the chilled air. She started to swing her bag over her shoulder, but I reached between us and took the bag from her, carrying it.
Kat arched a brow at me. “Are you a gentleman today?”
“I am many surprising things.”
“Uh-huh.”
My lips quirked up. We hit the parking lot, and not surprisingly, she was in the back again. Walking side by side, I purposely slowed my stride. “Did that boy say anything today?”
“That boy?” Her nose did that wrinkle thing as she glanced up at me. “Oh, you mean Blake?”
“Whatever,” I muttered, eyeing a group of guys huddled behind a pickup. Their camo baseball hats doing an awesome job at blending in. “Did he say anything about what happened at the diner last night?”
“No. Not really.” She folded her arms around her waist as a strong gust of wind whipped through the cars. “I mean, I tried to feel him out about it, you know? Apologized for freaking out about the branch falling, and he didn’t seem too interested in it. He thought…”
“Thought what?” We’d reached her car.
Kat shook her head as she unfolded her arms and reached out for her bag. “He didn’t think anything about it.” Taking the bag from me, she dug out her keys. “That’s good, right?”
“Yeah, but I wish you hadn’t brought it up.”
She frowned as she opened the car door. “I was just trying to see if we had a problem.”
“I get that.” I watched her toss her bag in. “But it’s best—”
“I know. Stay away from him. Blah. Blah.” She climbed into the car and reached for the door. I caught it before she could shut it on me. A long-suffering sigh radiated from her. “I need to get going.”
“Why? Meeting up with your new friend?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Actually, no. Dee is coming over. We’re hanging out.”
“Oh. Well then.” I smiled broadly and she rolled her eyes. “Have fun.”
“Uh-huh,” she muttered. “Good-bye, Daemon.”
Letting go of the car door, I stepped back and I didn’t move until Kat backed out of the parking lot and drove off. The back right tire looked like it needed air. Hadn’t I told her that already? Turning around, I scanned the parking lot, my gaze settling on the group of guys at the back of the pickup. A few of them broke apart, and I was able to see what was lying on the bed of the truck.
A dead doe.
My lip curled in distaste. Jesus. The rusty-looking marks along the bed showed that the kill must’ve been recent. Was it even hunting season yet? One of the guys started away from the truck, a big dude named Billy Crump. One of Simon’s friends.
“Y’all going to Rudy’s tonight?” he said, walking backward. “Me and Simon will kick your asses if not.”
Rudy’s was an old pool hall down near Smoke Hole. It used to be a bar, but at some point, it lost its liquor license and was now a pretty shitty place that didn’t have much more than pool tables and salmonella. That’s where Simon would be tonight? Perfect.
I smiled as I strolled out to the middle of the parking lot, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans as Billy neared me.
Wariness seeped from him as he passed me, lifting his chin in greeting. “Hey, man.”
I nodded, half tempted to clap him on the back. He just gave me the info I needed to take care of one of my problems.
Dee was gone by the time I got home, having stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things. Night was creeping in, earlier and earlier each day. The light in Kat’s front room was on, and I pictured my sister and her in there, nerding out about books.
My lips tipped up at the corners as I put the milk and eggs in the fridge, along with the five packs of bacon. They’d be gone by Sunday.
And it was Thursday.
There was a bunch of crap on the counter and in the pantry for the party tomorrow night. Somehow, and I’m assuming with a smile, Dee had procured a case of liquor. I shook my head as I walked out of the kitchen. I rounded the stairs and started to head up. There was a stack of paper lanterns in the guest room that Dee had ordered for the party that needed to be moved downstairs. Might as well—
I felt the presence of one of my own a second before there was a knock on the front door. Pivoting around, I moved to the door, half expecting to find one of the Thompsons or Matt.
It was neither.