Page 67 of Burning Ember

“Why can’t you call him?”

“‘Cause I need to get those sheets off my bed. I’m not fuckin’ sleepin’ in those after she’s been in there.”

Oh, right, the girl. Gross. I did not need a reminder. “T.M.I. Mav.”

He cocks a half smile. “I meant the spider, Doll. Not Jade.”

“Oh. Right. Of course you did.”

“Wanna tell me why you freaked out about the rope?”

I shake my head. “I didn’t—”

“Don’t even. You did. Listen, I’ll make you a deal. You don’t mention my thing with spiders, and I won’t bring up the rope shit again either. Deal?”

After a moment, I nod.

When I leave the room, Mav follows me out into the hallway, though at a safe distance. I try Taz’s door only to find that it’s locked.

When I turn back, I find Mav staring at me with a contemplative expression covering his features.“The small spaces thing . . . is that why you open the window and the door?”

I’m tempted to lie to him, but I’m pretty sure he can see the truth on my face right now.

“I’m sorta claustrophobic.”

He tilts his head and considers me for a minute. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“You didn’t really give me a chance to.”

He’s actually acting like a human being and I don’t know how to handle this new Mav. “You know. It’s nice to see you like this.”

He looks down at his chest. “Like what? Like this?”

I laugh and shake my head. “Wow. Cocky much. No. Not so . . . Me asshole . . . you Jane.” I even use the Tarzan voice. All humor fades from his face.

Oh for the love of God, Em . . . did you have to ruin it? Why couldn’t you just keep your mouth shut?

“Never mind. Forget I said anything,” I mutter. I turn away from him before the glaring starts up. I hit three on the phone.

Taz answers on the second ring. “Yeah?”

“It’s Pumpkin. I found Boop.”

Taz is silent for a second, “Be right there.” The line disconnects. I look down at the phone. It’s a flip phone. Maybe even one of those prepaid ones. For a split second, I consider asking Mav if I could use it. I’d love nothing more than to call Sundown and Will. But I know what Mav will say. And I’ve just insulted him so now probably isn’t the time to be asking for favors.

Mav comes out of his room with a pile of sheets. He dumps them at my feet. He’s now wearing a navy T-shirt, his face is stoic, and his eyes are blank of emotion. He plucks his phone from my hand and once back in his room, slams the door.

I call out after him, “I’m guessing you want me to wash those for you?”

Music comes on, turned up so loud that if I shout again, he won’t be able to hear me. The song is Wicked Game, by Stone Sour and for some reason it makes goosebumps spread down my arms at the same time that my stomach ties itself into a knot.

I sigh and look at the bundle in my hand. “Should we let you back in there? Huh? You wanna spend the night with Uncle Luce, don’t you, Boop?” She wiggles around trying to get free. “Don’t worry, girl. I’m not that mean. And Taz misses you.”

A good poker player knows when to bluff, when to play, and to fold when the odds are stacked against them.

EMBER

I’m elbow deep in a toilet bowl, when I feel someone nudge my butt from behind. Startled, I fling water everywhere as I whirl around and come face to face with a white English bulldog. He’s old, overweight, and has a brown spot over his left eye, and drool dripping from the corners of his mouth.