Page 27 of Our Darkest Summer

We leftthe tool room behind, and I could barely contain my excitement. There were so many things we could find, so many possibilities. It was Connor’s blond curls, I noticed first as we stepped into the living room. He was sitting on the couch, his back to us.

“Did you tell him?” I asked Thomas, my voice barely a whisper as we stopped at the edge of the room.

“After you left.” He nodded.

I chewed on my bottom lip. “And?”

Before he could’ve answered, Connor turned around. “I can hear you two whispering,” he said, licking the popsicle in his hand. “You two really need to find a new hobby besides creeping up on me.”

Thomas snorted.

“Kinsley just wanted to make sure I told you about the letter and the note.”

“That.” Connor straightened. “Can you believe that my brother actually shared something without being forced to do so?” he asked. “Maybe he’s sick.”

We both narrowed our eyes at Thomas, inspecting him. “Now that you said it, he looks quite bad.” I grinned, and Connor laughed while Thomas lifted his eyes at the ceiling.

“By the way,” Connor turned with his full body, “I’m going into town to meet Kevin. So don’t expect me back until…late.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Con,” Thomas shook his head.

“Come on.” Connor sighed. “I’m meeting with the chief’s son. It can barely get safer than that,” he joked, and Thomas made an unimpressed face. “You’re just jealous because I might get some action.” Connor teased him, and I almost choked on the breath I was taking.

The loud car horn saved me from my unwanted thoughts, and Connor jumped to his feet.

“If you are so worried, I’ll keep you updated,” he said as he headed to the door. “With pictures and all.”

“Please don’t,” Thomas grumbled, but the door already closed behind his brother.

There was a moment of silence between us while I kept my eyes on the window. The forest was dark, the tree branches quivered from the summer breeze. Yesterday, I found them comforting but since last night even the sight of them sent shivers down my spine. It was as if they were waving at me, trying to lure me closer in hope that I would get lost in the sea of green. The urban legend Aaliyah told us, creeped into my mind. Even though I didn’t believe it, I found myself searching for a woman’s shape between the trees.

“You do that a lot.” Thomas jolted me out of my wander. He wasn’t beside me anymore, instead he was resting himself against the back of the couch, his head slightly tipped to the side, his arms crossed over his chest as he observed me.

“Do what?” I asked with a scowl. “Stop analyzing me,” I added frustratedly.

“I’ll, when you stop analyzing me.” His dark eyes zoned in on me.

I opened my mouth then closed it, pressing it into a thin line instead.

Checkmate.

“Do what?” I repeated my question.

“Zone out,” he answered simply, and I knotted my brows.

“I don’t,” I disagreed, and he let out a low laugh.

“Do you still want to search the walls?” he asked, changing the subject, and I only hesitated for a moment before nodding. Of course I wanted to. “Well then, after you.” He gestured toward the staircase.

???

The master bedroom was on the far end of the hallway, right next to the guest room. I walked past its white door when I crossed the hall to the bathroom. Thomas pulled out a key from his pocket, and I arched a brow at him as he opened the door. Did he always have that on him? I crossed the threshold first.

The bedroom was twice the size of Thomas’, and that wasn’t small either. It had floor-to-ceiling windows on one of the walls, just like in the living room, and they led out onto a balcony over looking the forest and the lake. A king-size bed was placed on my right, its headboard against the floral-patterned wall that faced two closed doors, which I suspected were the bathroom and most likely the closet.

I turned around in the room, examining every piece of furniture while Thomas stared at me from the doorway. “Are you going to just stand there the whole time?” I asked, facing him.

“I might.” The corner of his mouth turned upward. “I’m quite satisfied with the view from here,” he added, and I blinked, my cheeks heating.