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SIXTEEN

ADRIAN

THE LURKERS

Day 469

Nearly a week of tailing Trevor has left me with nothing but frustration. How the hell has this guy survived so long? It’s baffling. His spends his days being a bother to whoever he’s paired with more than anything else. He doesn’t bother inspecting the fence line properly, doesn’t contribute to repairs, doesn’t haul supplies, and certainly doesn’t lend a hand at the Alden farm. Instead, he fills his time shoveling down his grandma’s awful cooking and ogling Farron like a starving man spotting a feast every time she’s within fifty feet. My Sunshine. The thought grates on my nerves.

After the town hall a few days ago, everyone’s been on edge. No one in Rolling Hills has come clean about breaking into the shed, and it’s only convincing everyone more of the possibility of outsiders watching us, toying with us. Farron’s been taking it the hardest, her mind working overtime to try and find any and all possible solutions to something she has no control over. She’s written up multiple lists as she brainstorms what she thinks we need to implement, running herself ragged as she talks herself in circles trying to make sense of everything.

But I’m still not convinced outsiders have anything to do with it, even if Farron’s concerns are logical.

My mind is still on fucking Trevor.

I lean against the Abel barn with my arms crossed. Hopefully, Kenji is more alert than I am because my thoughts are spiraling. What does this guy even bring to the table? A few days ago, I watched him sprint after Farron while she was on her way to Daisy’s place, whining about pulling a muscle in his leg and asking if she could “examine it.” Her visible shudder at his request had been the highlight of my week.

Meanwhile, Todd and I completed another supply run a few days ago despite Farron’s protests. No trouble this time, thankfully. But the next one is going to take us farther out, and I’m already dreading the inevitable conversation I’ll have to have with Farron about it. She worries. Always. Even more now, ever since the shed was broken into and the idea of outsiders watching us niggled itself into her brain like a parasite. And I get it. Hell, I’d worry, too, if the roles were reversed.

Movement snaps me out of my thoughts. Trevor’s brisk figure emerges from the barn, heading toward his house. Odd. He doesn’t usually move with any purpose unless it’s toward Farron—and I know she’s with Daisy right now. Narrowing my eyes, I watch as he rounds the side of the house instead of heading through the front door.

We’re not meant to be moving around anywhere on our own without a buddy present, so why is Trevor on his own? Kenji and I move at the same time. My instincts kick in, sharpening every sense. The fresh snow muffles our steps as we dart from the barn, trailing behind him. Rounding the house’s corner, we pause, searching. But he’s vanished.

Shit.

He didn’t go through the kitchen door—we would’ve heard it creak open. Todd keeps saying he’ll fix that squeak, but it’s still as loud as ever. I shift my gaze to Kenji, only to find his lips turned down into a frown, his own confusion evident. I creep onto the porch, careful to avoid the creaky spots and peer through the kitchen window. The house looks still, but then I catch movement in the living room, the sound of grunting muffled by the walls.

Squinting, I focus on the moving figure—and then freeze.

It’s Todd. A very naked Todd. And an equally naked Jay.

Shit. I shouldn't be seeing this.

Panic surges through me as I realize I’ve just walked in on an incredibly private moment. Fuck, fuck, fuck. My brain screams at me to leave—now. Heart pounding, I spin around to make a swift exit, only to slam straight into Kenji, who made his way behind me at some point. We crash down the steps in a tangle of limbs, hitting the cold, unforgiving ground with a graceless thud.

“Ugh, what the hell was that?” Kenji groans, pointing accusingly at the stairs. His right-hand moves up to adjust his sling, and he winces in pain.

I barely register his words. Scrambling to my knees, I slap a dirt-covered hand over his mouth. “Shush! I don’t want them to hear us. Now move! We need to get out of here.”

Before Kenji can murder me or ask any more questions, the front door creaks open. My stomach drops. A disheveled Todd and Jay come bounding down the stairs, their expressions a mix of worry and confusion. Without hesitation, they help us off the ground as we brush the dirt from our clothes. Todd's wide eyes meet mine, and I can see the unease in his body language. He realizes exactly what I saw. No point in pretending otherwise. And I’m not about to lie to my best friend.

“Todd, I’m sorry,” I say, my voice steady. “I was just coming to check on…something when I heard some noises. As soon as I realized what I was looking at, I moved to get away. I wasn’t trying to be some sort of peeping tom, I swear. I’m so sorry.”

Kenji and Jay seem to be having some sort of silent conversation with only their eyes. Todd, however, just stares at the ground, and the silence stretches on for what feels like forever, making my skin itch with discomfort and worry.

“You’re… not upset?” Todd asks hesitantly.

I blink. Upset? Why would he think I was upset? Before I can even form the question, Kenji speaks up.

“No,” he says firmly. “You’re our friends. We care about you no matter what. Plus, we sort of figured this was coming…” he trails off, his good hand reaching up to rub the back of his neck. “You two deserve to be happy just as much as everyone else. And if you’ve found that happiness in each other, in your best friend? Then I think you’re even luckier than you realize.” His gaze softens as he gestures at all of us, dirt-streaked and disheveled. “I just… apologize for all this.”

“I’ve never…come out before or told anybody that I was into guys,” Todd says, his voice uncertain as he looks at me. “So I didn’t know how to. And I didn’t want this to come between our friendship.”

God, this lovable Toddy boy.

I don’t hesitate. I rush forward and wrap him in a tight hug. He sucks in a sharp breath at my sudden attack, but in the next second, his arms pull me in just as tightly.

I’ve always had Theo and Kenji by my side, but aside from my family and now Farron, no one has truly stuck. People come for the laughs, then leave. But Todd? Todd is my first real friend, the kind that doesn’t waver. And no matter who he is, I could never judge him—especially not for something as lovely as finding comfort and love in his best friend.

I’ll always carry the guilt of interrupting this moment, but I’ll make sure he knows that he’s loved. That it doesn’t matter who he loves or who he chooses to spend his time with. As long as he’s happy, that’s all that should matter.

As Todd and I pull apart, Jay smirks. “So… do we need to hug now, too?” he asks Kenji.

“Nah, we’re good. Unless you want to?” Kenji asks with a wink.

Jay shoots him a flat, unimpressed stare. Kenji just laughs. As similar as Todd and I are, Jay and Kenji have the same energy.

“You guys are free to tell Theo, but we want to be the ones to tell Farron,” Todd says before pausing. “And we’d like to keep it just between us for now. I don’t think we’re ready for everyone else to know just yet.” Kenji and I agree easily.

“Well, we better go. We’ve got some things to take care of, and given that we interrupted you guys, I’d say you do, too.” I say, throwing a not-so-subtle wink at Todd.

Todd’s entire face turns pink, and he gives me a two-finger salute. Before Todd or Jay can say anything else, I spin around and make a quick exit, pulling Kenji with me. “Have fun and stay safe! Love you guys!” I yell out over my shoulder.

A grin spreads across my face as Kenji and I make our way through Rollings Hills, keeping our eyes peeled for Trevor. “I’m so happy for them. I can’t believe my best friend finally got the guy.”

“Since when is Todd your best friend? I thought Theo and I were your best friends?” Kenji asks, looking perplexed

“You and Theo are like my brothers and now husbands–in-law. Todd’s my best friend outside of you two—like Jay is for you. And Farron, of course, is my special best friend.” I wink, and Kenji rolls his eyes.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on babysitting duty?”

Before I can respond, a flash of movement catches my eye. Trevor. He’s darting toward the Alden barn, his pace frantic.

Kenji and I exchange a look before quietly trailing him. Pressing against the barn’s wall, we peer through a small opening. Trevor’s inside, shoving items into a bag with haste. I can’t make out what he’s taking, but why would he come all the way here for supplies when the Abel barn is closer?

Kenji and I both have a puzzled look on our faces while he points his head behind his shoulder to follow. We quietly make our way around the barn and towards the Alden house. Once we are out of earshot and relatively covered by the house, I speak. “What is he doing in there, and what was he taking?”

Kenji’s jaw tightens. “No idea. But I don’t like it.”

We linger in the shadows, tension coiling between us. Something’s off. Whatever Trevor is up to, it doesn’t sit right.