Page 96 of Horror and Chill

Me: Hope you enjoyed the show

The dots bubble.

Garron: Wish I was there

Evander: Stunning as usual

Corwin: I’ll burn that chair next time I’m inside your house

I laugh at the craziest of my trio and heft the bag before setting it by the door, ready for the trip. Then I stand in the middle of the room for a second. There’s a bright, dangerous little thrill in my chest that tastes like ruin and a weird kind of relief at the same time.

I head to shower and then bed because there’s work tomorrow. Because there’s always work. Because Friday’s coming, whether I’m ready or not.

40

Corwin

The car idles loudly.Heat blasting, vents rattling, leather squeaking every time I move. Garron’s in the driver’s seat, his hands tapping a beat on the wheel. Evander’s in the back, stretched out like a king. And me? I’m grinding my teeth, chewing on the inside of my cheek til I taste blood. Eyes locked on the house in front of us. Any second now, she’s gonna walk out.

Agatha.

She said yes, and told us not to be late. Like she owns us. Like she doesn’t realize what she’s asked for.

The door creaks open, and there she is. Baggy jeans, black t-shirt that says “all men are cremated equal.” Silver hair shining in the night. She looks like she just stepped out of a punk rock photoshoot, and I can’t get enough of her. My jaw aches from clenching it so tight. My hands twitch on my knees like I need something to hold down.

“Fuck,” I mutter.

Garron smirks. “Try to keep it in your pants until we hit the highway.”

I flip him off. I can’t take my eyes off of her. The bag on her shoulder, the fact she actually packed. She’s coming. For real.

She opens the back door and slides in beside Evander. The air changes. My pulse kicks just from her thigh brushing the seat.

“Evening, triplets of terror,” she says, voice light.

Evander nods, soft smile. “Little Horror.”

“Good evening?” I echo, twisting in my seat. “That’s all? After making us wait like dogs?”

She meets my eyes dead-on, no flinch. “You’re still here, aren’t you? Must have been worth it.”

Cocky.

She’s not playing timid. My grin stretches. Elbow hooks over the seat. “We’ll always wait.”

“Seatbelt,” Garron says.

She snaps the door shut without looking away from me. No nervousness to be seen. She knows exactly what she’s walking into, and she’s choosing it anyway. That should settle me. It doesn’t. It makes me want to see how far she’ll keep pushing.

“So,” I drag out the word, “sleep good? Dream about us?”

Her lips curve. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

I bark out a laugh. “Bet you did.”

“I had hot and bloody dreams about you, Little Horror,” Garron cuts in, still smirking at the road.

Evander interrupts, “Corwin.”