Adea
Before I could try and guess where this special place was Shane picked me up bridal style and carried me to the Mercedes. My head was too lightheaded as he swept me off my feet. Instead of protesting, I went with it.
The sun had fully set and the stars peeked out from the blanket of night and sparkled like little diamonds. My eyes dropped to the tops of the buildings and the street lights that lit up the sidewalks.
Devin was waiting by the car and opened the door as we approached. I gave him a big drunken smile on my way in, one that he didn’t return. The car was warm and I sighed as I waited for the guys to hop in.
As soon as everyone was in and the doors were shut, Liam shifted gears and we were off. I stared out the window as the restaurant flew out of sight. There wasn’t much to look at soon. On the way to the special place, I eventually dozed off.
I jerked awake as the car slowed to a stop. Coming to, I realized I was leaning into Shane, my head was on his chest. Lowering my gaze, his arm was wrapped around me, and I watched as slowly he caressed my arm.
“Bad dream?” Shane asked.
“No.” Surprisingly enough I didn’t have any nightmares while I slept in the lion’s den.
“Great. You’ve got perfect timing, we just arrived,” Shane’s voice was low in my ear.
His breath sent little jolts of electricity down my back. There was still a small veil of haze over my eyes. I was surrounded by his scent and I tried to ignore it. I lifted my head up from the hard pillow that was his chest. Peering outside, all I saw was darkness. Confused, I faced him and looked at him questioningly. When he didn’t answer, the words tumbled out.
“This is the special place?” I asked. “You brought me to a shady dark place late at night? Is this where you’re going to kill me and bury the body?” I asked.
Smart. Real smart, Adea. I couldn’t stop the words that came out. Maybe. I shouldn’t have let him know I was onto him but I blame it on the soju shots. I willingly came with a well-known killer to a secret dark location. There would be no one to blame but myself if I ended up six feet under.
A noise from the front seat drew my attention. Devin had laughed. He coughed to try and clear it up. I’m glad someone thinks this is funny. Goddess, Devin is such an asshole. Before I can stick my tongue out at him or flip him off, Shane’s chest rumbles.
The vibration from him tickles my cheek. What the? I look up at him in confusion. His eyes have this little sparkle in them and my jaw drops. He just fucking laughed. What the hell?
“No, this isn’t a horror movie, Adea. We’re in front of your forest.”
“A forest?” I asked.
“Your forest. It’s yours,” Shane said.
“I’m not following,” I said.
“We’re here to walk down memory lane. I wanted to bring you to your favorite place. A tipsy walk through the woods sounds like fun, doesn’t it?” Shane asked as he reached for the door handle.
“Wait,” I said as I gripped his arm. His eyes darted from the door to my hand on him before he looked at me. I wasn’t ready to believe that he didn’t bring me here to kill me. My brain goes from slasher movie to one of those movies where the main character is let loose into the woods and then hunted down. “We’re going for a walk?”
“Yes, unless there was something else you wanted to do?” Shane asked. It was clear what he was implying but that was also a no for me.
“Only a walk?” I asked. Shane nodded. “What do you get out of this?”
He stared at me for an intense moment. He didn’t say a word as he looked into my eyes, noting the clear suspicion in them. His jaw clenched as he tried to figure out what he was trying to say. There was this look in his eye when he pieced the words together.
“I get to see your face look relaxed and carefree like it did before. I get… to hopefully undo some of the damage that I’ve done. And maybe… just maybe there’s a selfish reason behind me wanting to do this for you.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“… Maybe I want to make one of my fantasies come true. For years, I watched you sneak off into these woods. Maybe I want you to look at me with the look on your face I remember. The one you had all of those times I watched you run through here barefoot and carefree. Maybe… I wanted to be the person by your side when you laughed and relaxed. I want to hold your hand and just… be here. Maybe, I want to satisfy one of my own teenage fantasies of going with you for a dip in that pool you love so much. Instead of always watching from the shadows.”
My jaw was on the ground for the second time tonight. It wasn’t the answer I was expecting to hear but I guess it’s better than him admitting he wanted to take me up against a tree or kill me. I should be happy with this. I should feel relieved to hear that his intentions didn’t include pain.
“Now if you don’t have any more questions, we can go,” Shane said as he stared at me. I shook my head. “That’s a good girl.” Turning from me, he reached for the door and I stepped out into the cool night air. He followed after me and the door slammed shut.
“Are they coming?” I asked.
“No. They’re going to wait here.”