Page 43 of Making It Up

She’s illuminated only by the tiniest bit of light coming through the windows of the blind and the phone she’s holding up in front of her face, her thumbs flying over the screen as she types.

Her dark hair is spread around her head and shoulders, spilling out from under the camouflage cap she’s wearing, and I can now see earbuds nestled in her ears. That explains why she hasn’t heard me.

And why she wouldn’t hear a serial killer approach.

She’s dressed in a camouflaged long-sleeved T-shirt, and camo pants. She’s got brown boots on her feet too. She looks decked out to hunt, but I don’t see any weapons. And if she is here for the hunting, she needs some lessons.

Like, to bring a gun.

To not do it in someone else’s blind without permission.

To only do it during hunting season.

And what kind of snacks to bring.

The cheese, crackers, fruit, and wine she has spread on the floor beside her aren’t it.

But I can’t help but smile and shake my head.

No, she’s not here to hunt. But I think I know why she’s here. And fuck, it’s kind of adorable. If ridiculous.

As I watch, she pauses her typing and reaches for the plate next to her hip. She grabs a cracker, slides it through the hunk of cheese on the plate next to it, then pops it into her mouth.

She chews, the soft crunching noise the only sound filling the blind, as she goes back to moving her thumbs rapidly over the screen of her phone.

I don’t know what she’s doing exactly, but I instantly wonder if she’s writing chapter eleven.

“Mia,” I say.

She doesn’t respond. What the hell is she listening to, and why does she have it so loud?

I raise my voice. “Mia.” I nudge her shoulder with the toe of my boot.

The next thing I know, she has popped up, and a hunk of cheese has hit me in the face.

“Oh my God! “Her hand goes to her chest. “David, you scared me!”

“You’re in a hunting blind and your weapon of choice is cheese?” I ask.

She takes a deep breath, then blows it out as if trying to settle her heart rate. “I didn’t think I would need a weapon tonight.”

“Well, the serial killer stalking through the woods looking for unsuspecting women to murder will be happy to hear that.”

Her eyes widen, then she smiles. “You think there’s a serial killer just hanging out in these woods on the off chance that someone like me might come to this deer blind?”

“Might be his lucky day.”

She tips her head to the side, regarding me. “I don’t feel like that’s a compliment.”

“What the hell are you doing out here?”

She looks around, then back up at me. “Getting in trouble with Game and Parks.”

And just like that, I have my confirmation.

She set this up. She knew I would come.

I relax. She’s out here for me.