I parked my Honda Fit in the driveway and sighed as I watched the house. The outside lights were on and my dad’s car was in the driveway. At least I wouldn’t be home alone.
Wyatt’s mood nagged me. Something about it wasn’t right but I couldn’t figure out what could change his attitude in such a short time. It wasn’t like I knew him that well, but it was unusual for anyone to change so much in that timeframe.
Something was happening in his life that I had no clue about.
The keys jangled as I shoved them into my bookbag and used the garage door to head inside. I placed my bag on the dining room chair and headed toward the scent of food sizzling in the kitchen.
“Hey, kiddo,” my dad shouted.
“Hi, dad.”
He jumped. “I didn’t realize you were that close. Sorry I yelled.”
“It’s okay.” I sniffed the air. “Whatcha making?”
“Cheesesteak. Want one?”
“Always.”
He smiled and flipped the meat over again on the griddle.
My dad wasn’t usually an unhealthy eater … unless his day went poorly. A bad outcome in a surgery or the loss of a patient usually meant fatty and fried foods for dinner.
I hopped up on the stool at the kitchen island, focusing on the marble designed counters. “What happened today?”
His shoulders slumped before he turned. “Patient died on the table.”
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“I wish I could say it didn’t happen, but unfortunately it does in my field. The patient’s insides were all scrambled from the car accident. There wasn’t much I could do.”
I nodded. Variations of this story happened occasionally over the years, more as I got older. My dad tried to shield me when I was little, but I always noticed when we ended up with hamburgers or pizza for dinner instead of grilled chicken and broccoli.
“Is Mom coming home soon?”
“Maybe. She wasn’t sure. More depositions to comb through.”
“So, dinner for two.”
He chuckled. “You got it, kiddo. How was your day? Mom said you had a tutoring session.”
“My day was normal. I’m ready to graduate. The tutoring session was productive.”
“I’m so proud of you sweetie. You give up your time so generously to help others.”
My insides twisted. Usually, I would have beamed from that comment, but this time it was more of a quid pro quo instead of selflessness. I let a tight smile display across my features. “It’s not a big deal.”
He shifted more of the meat to a plate and layered more onto the griddle. “Kids your age are more about partying and selfish motives. Just look at your cousin. No schools accepted her. I don’t know what Steve is going to do with her. No colleges? I doubt even his money can squeeze her in somewhere. So, tutoring is a good thing. I’m proud of you.”
I grimaced at the mention of Andrea. I didn’t realize it had been that bad. I didn’t even know where she had tried to apply to school. I couldn’t imagine being rejected from everywhere. How bad could her grades have been? “Well, thanks.”
He flipped over more meat, then glanced in my direction. “Your mom wouldn’t tell me what she got you this year.”
My stomach dropped. If I told him the truth, she would get in trouble and it would put a stop to the whole ordeal, which was kind of good, but I was invested now. And what if she had spoken to her dad? Although I doubted that too. They weren’t anywhere near as close as I was with my parents. “Nothing worth mentioning.” I shifted uncomfortably. “I’m going to go get changed. I’ll be back.”
“Okay.” His gaze lingered before he began to hum while he continued to cook.
I hated lying to him, but it was for the best at this point. No good would come from him knowing the truth. I sauntered down the hallway to the last bedroom on the left. My room was tucked into the corner of the house with an attached bath. My bed was exactly how I had left it that morning—made and pristine. My floor was free of clothes or any dirt really. I couldn’t help but wonder what Wyatt would think if he saw this room. No doubt he would assume it was more proof of me being a goody-two-shoes.
I plopped on the bed and kicked off my sandals, letting my bare feet sink into the plush white and black rug.
My phone’s notification ringtone sounded. I leaned over the bed to pull it from my nightstand.
My muscles tightened. I knew there had been something. But was it really my job to pry? We hadn’t agreed to get deep, just to do the dates and tutor.
My eyes widened. He went further than I had expected, which was good, but I had to admit I was impressed. It usually took a lot longer to get the ones I tutored to go above what they were used to.
“Marley, cheesesteaks are done.”
I placed the phone on the nightstand and plugged it in, then headed toward the kitchen.
Dad had already constructed the cheesesteak with lots of cheese and placed it on my plate, ready to eat.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“No problem, kiddo.” He took a big bite and chewed. “Want to watch a show together? I know it’s a little late for a movie.”
“Sure.”
I plopped onto the sectional opposite him and ate while he scrolled through a couple of options. He settled on the newest episode of Curse of Oak Island and hit Play.
I nuzzled into the couch and released the tension in my body. This is what I needed—dinner with my dad and some yummy food.
* * *
Mr. McIntyre, our NHS moderator, stood at the front of the classroom. “If everyone can settle, this is our last thing on the agenda and then we can all dismiss.”
Most stopped talking enough for him to continue.
“Our annual volunteer opportunity at Rosewood Hospital is Saturday. I expect to see you all dressed appropriately at eight a.m. sharp. We will meet at the front doors, check in with their volunteer program manager, then you will receive your tasks.”
A few students from the back grumbled about the time.
“Alright, go ahead and skedaddle. I’ll see you all on Saturday.”
I packed up my bookbag and walked to the front. “Mr. McIntyre, I was wondering if I could bring one extra person on Saturday?”
His brows scrunched together. “Who?”
“Wyatt Shaw. I’m tutoring him and he wanted to come along. I promise I’ll stay focused on my volunteering responsibilities.”
He stroked his chin. “I know you will, Marley. Wyatt Shaw, huh? Okay, just make sure you keep an eye on him.”
Keep an eye on him? He said it like Wyatt was some kind of criminal. “Of course.”
“Then I say the more the merrier.”
“Thank you. See you on Saturday.”
He nodded and shuffled papers at the front desk.
I closed the classroom door on my way out and headed for the school parking lot. The building was eerie this late after school. The hallways that usually were filled with raucous noises, were quiet and darker than normal. Random papers littered the floor and red and black lockers reflected the light that streamed in through open classroom windows.
I shivered and grabbed my bag tighter to my chest, then pushed through the main doors after I passed the office.
Wyatt’s truck was parked near my car, and he leaned against the hood with his arms crossed. He wore light-wash jeans with holes around the knee and up by the pockets. These jeans were clearly well worn, and I didn’t see him as the type of person to buy jeans that looked shredded. He wore a plain black fitted T-shirt.
Heat crawled over my skin. His arms protruded from the sleeves of his shirt, revealing toned muscles. And even with the near eighty-degree temperature, he still had on a dark gray beanie with his hair peeking out from underneath.
I had to admit, his relaxed musician’s look was tempting … if we were a real couple.
He raised his gaze to meet mine and smiled. “There you are.”
Today was clearly a different mood than yesterday. “Yep, all set after my meeting. And I double checked with Mr. McIntyre, and you’re all set for Saturday too.”
He pulled open the passenger door. “Hop on in.” He outstretched his hand for me to use as I got in.
Once I sat, I smoothed over my dark red pencil skirt and flowy short-sleeved shirt with red roses.
He walked around the other side, got in and started his truck.
“Want me to check your supporting details while you drive us to wherever this date is?”
He chuckled. “Really don’t like surprises and being flexible do you?”
I scuffed my black Converse against the floorboard. “Not really, but I’ll get over it I suppose.”
“Should be on top in my bookbag in the backseat.”
I twisted around and grabbed his bag from the back of the cab. Sure enough the papers sat on top of his other books. I grabbed them and then readjusted facing forward. I read through his details as he glanced my way.
I had to admit, I wasn’t used to quality like this from someone who had such severe disparity in his grades. This was quite easily an A paper when he put it altogether. Guidance was all I had really provided so far, and yet this stood on its own.
What had happened to him when he wrote those other versions?
He tapped his thumb against the wheel. A sporadic rhythm, like the beat of a nervous heart. “I could rework a couple of them if you think it’s too extraneous.”
I shook my head. “I think this is perfect the way it is, Wyatt. This is easily an A paper. Color me seriously impressed.”
His demeanor instantly shifted. His shoulders were more relaxed and his smile was lazy but enticing. The glimmer returned in those deep brown eyes. “Thanks. I really tried.”
“Well, I can tell. Keep this up and Mr. Andrews and your other teachers will easily raise your grades.”
“That’d be nice.”
“When we talked about college you didn’t mention anything about you. What are your after school plans?”
“You mean if I graduate?”
I playfully nudged his arm. “Not if. I don’t let anyone fail, ever.”
“I don’t really want to go to college. I want to move to New York and try to get in the music scene.”
“That’s so cool. I guess you like big cities then?”
“They’re alright. It’s more just where I’d have greater opportunities. Music producers aren’t just walking around the cities of West End.”
“True. Won’t you miss it here?”
“Not at all.”
His answer was stern, as if he was trying to convince me as much as he was trying to convince himself. Wouldn’t he miss people here?
He parked in a large gravel lot located on the side of the road in a field. I recognized the area as part of the Maryland State Parks.
My eyebrow arched. “What are we doing?”
“Playing hide and seek.”
“Here?”
“It says in an unexpected place. Last time I checked, no one expects to play here. And besides, we’re taking the gravel road back behind some of the trees. I know a location that will be perfect.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my Converse sneakers. Hide and seek in the woods? Wasn’t that a bit … horror movie like? Was this where he killed me?
“I promise you will have service for the whole time and if you’re uncomfortable we can leave.”
My eyes widened. How did he know I thought that?
He chuckled. “Your look of terror kind of gave away what you were feeling.”
“Oh, well, okay.” I peered around. “Do you come here a lot?”
“I used to. It’s a nice place to hike and stuff, but it’s been a few years.”
“You hike?”
“Not in a serious way. It’s nice to be out in nature though. Helps me relax.”
“Ah. Does it help with your music?”
He shrugged one shoulder as he waited for me to catch up to his pace. “I’ve written a song or two in nature, but I haven’t written anything lately.”
“You’ve written songs? That’s still impressive. I’m not creative like that.”
He eyed me carefully. “You could try to be. I’m sure you just don’t let yourself relax enough to see if you could be. Creativity is about expression, not about anything else. As long as you’re expressing yourself, it doesn’t matter.”
“Well, my expression is poorly done then.”
“Only if you focus on someone else’s value of your pieces.”
“Isn’t that the point if you want to be good?”
“In some respects. It depends on your goals, I suppose. I of course worry about what others think of my songs and singing, but I do other things only for myself. And the process is more important than the result.”
The path wasn’t as scary as I had thought. Sunlight filtered through the trees, lighting up the path. I could hear birds in the distance. I could see how this would be a nice walk. I wasn’t exactly a poster child for the outdoors, but I could appreciate its beauty when there were only a few bugs and low humidity.
“Maybe.”
He nudged my arm. “You don’t have to put yourself in such a small box. I know I joked about you being a goody-two-shoes, but that’s obviously not all of who you are.”
“Ha. My cousin wouldn’t agree with that. She’d probably love that assessment of me.”
“Well, no offense, but if family is willing to treat you like that, then they aren’t good family. She should build you up, not tear you down.”
“That’s never how we’ve been. I’ve always been the smart one and good at school, and she’s always been about boys and her looks.”
“You could always change it.”
I snorted. “Andrea isn’t likely to change just because I ask for it. We’re eighteen and she still bought this book to showcase my insecurities. That’s always how she’s been.”
I could feel his gaze on me, but he remained silent. The energy that wafted from him made me squirm, like he had more to say, but was thinking better of it. So instead of chatting we walked in silence, the noise of the animals in the trees, deafening in my ears.
My cheeks flamed and I had no idea why, other than that I had a weird want to know his opinion of me. What else did he think I was like? I had barely interacted with him; it hadn’t even been a week and yet he saw more to me than my own cousin did.
But maybe that was because this didn’t matter the way other interactions did. This was fake, so either way it would happen. If I showed other people who I was and they truly rejected that, then it would be different. That had to be it, right?
Wyatt outstretched his arms. “Tada!”
I stared at the scene before us. A stone structure that had honestly seen better days stood in the middle. It looked like the structure had been several levels, at least two of the windows were any indication.
“What is this place?”
“It’s an old grist mill from the eighteen hundreds. Isn’t it cool?”
“It’s not haunted right?”
Wyatt twisted his lips to the side like he was seriously considering that. “I don’t think so. I’ve never seen any stories about it, but who knows right?”
Did he think that was reassuring?
“So here are the rules.”
“What? There are rules for hide and seek? Isn’t it just go hide and the other person finds you?”
“Sure, when you play in a house. This space is a little big isn’t it?”
I looked to where he pointed. “Okay, yes.”
“So, the rules.” He cleared his throat. “You must stay on this side of the bridge and you can’t go past the grist mill in this direction. Otherwise hide anywhere in between.”
I groaned. “What if we can’t find the other person? Is there a time limit?”
He drew his brows together. “I mean I may not have played in several years, but I am positive I can find you.”
“Okay, what if I can’t find you?”
“How about we wait and see if it actually becomes a problem?”
I crossed my arms. “Fine, let’s take the picture then.”
He moved closer and stood behind me as he smiled. When we were in the shot and it looked reasonably okay, I snapped the photo with my phone. I moved it closer to make sure it was fine, then showed him.
He nodded.
“Who hides first?”
“You can if you want.”
I wanted many things in this moment, but my decision on whether to hide first or not was not one of them. “Sure. How long are you counting?”
“To twenty?”
“Okay.” I waited for him to cover his eyes and begin, then I tried to sprint away as fast as I could without making sounds to lead him right to me. The grist mill was much taller the closer I got to its foundation.
My hand skimmed over the rough surface as I walked to the inside and looked for a good place to hide. Wyatt was already at twelve. If I didn’t try to hide somewhere this would be too easy.
A large boulder with a wagon wheel leaned against it was off in the corner. I launched myself behind the boulder and crouched as low as I could in a pencil skirt. This was so not the attire to play hide and seek in.
“Twenty. Ready or not here I come,” Wyatt shouted.
The sounds of twigs snapping and leaves rustling got louder as he neared. Then his head peeked around the boulder and he smirked. “Gotcha.”
“What? That was like two seconds.”
“What can I say? I’m a hide and seek master.”
“No way. You peeked.”
“I would never!”
I crossed my arms. “So, then what?”
He chuckled. “You really want to know?”
I nodded.
“I can smell your perfume. It got stronger the closer I got.”
“Wh-What? Well, that’s no fair. You’ll be able to find me anywhere.”
“Maybe. Once you’ve been more places it’ll be harder.”
“That still feels rigged.”
“I can’t help that I can smell your perfume.”
“Well, I didn’t know we would be playing hide and seek.”
He chuckled. “You can gripe about it after you walk back so I can hide.”
I muttered a few choice words under my breath. It may have only been hide and seek but I didn’t want to be outwitted by perfume. I trudged back to the hiding spot and counted to twenty just like he had.
My eyes opened and I waited as they adjusted to more light after having them closed. I listened to the sounds as I waited, but all I could hear were sounds typical of the area we were in—birds chirping in the distance and leaves rustling as the wind blew.
I started toward the bridge to get a different vantage point. Wyatt hadn’t been wearing any cologne that I could tell. I didn’t know if he ever did to be honest. I could never get past his eyelashes long enough to let my nose do its job.
Focus, Marley.
Wyatt’s shirt would help him blend into the surroundings, but those light-wash jeans should be easier to see. He was taller than me, easily six foot, maybe six foot two, so where would I hide if I had been that tall?
I surveyed the grounds looking for something tall but not necessarily fat. He could stand and it wouldn’t be difficult to keep the position.
Near the edges of our area, a tall but skinny rock stood proudly. I would bet my GPA that’s where he was. I creeped toward the rock, trying not to give away my own position and peered around it.
Sure enough, there he was. “Gotcha.”
Wyatt’s cheek pulled to the side as a half-smile emerged. “You aren’t so bad at this either.”
I rested my hands on my hips. “I am an honors student. I deducted the most reasonable places you’d be.”
He stroked his chin. “Ah, well, I’ll just have to change my strategy then.”
I frowned. “Well, go count. I have to figure out my spot.”
He winked. “Good luck, Marley.”
I waited until he was back at the starting position before I moved to my next spot. I decided that he would try to use my strategy so I would be in an unpredictable place based on my outfit. I doubted he would expect me to climb at all in my skirt.
In a tree near the edge of the grist mill, mostly blocked by the structure of the building and the leaves, I hopped up to a limb that was at least ten feet from the ground. The limb had many large branches stemming from it with large leaves. What wasn’t protected by leaves was shielded by the grist mill. He would never expect me up here. I just had to not fall out.
“Twenty,” he shouted. In no time at all, I could see and hear him walking around the grist mill. I caught a few glimpses of his clothes, a leg here and an arm there, but never his face. If I could see him, then he could see me and it would be game over.
“I know you’re around here, Marley. I can smell your perfume.”
I covered my mouth with my hand. I was so close to giggling and ruining the whole thing completely.
His footsteps eventually faded as he walked in the opposite direction.
I exhaled. I had been right. He didn’t expect me to be in a tree.
“Marco,” he shouted.
Oh no. I wasn’t giving myself away.
“Were you toying with me the first round? Because I have checked everywhere, and you aren’t there.” His footsteps stopped. “Well, I guess not everywhere because then I would have found you. So, if you aren’t on the ground, which clearly you aren’t, then you have to be up higher.”
I sucked in a breath and clenched my whole body in the tree.
His footsteps got louder. Then just as he became clear in my vision, he looked up. “Gotcha.”
I smirked. “Wasn’t so easy, was it?”
He adjusted his beanie. “I have to say, I didn’t expect you to be in a tree.”
“That was the point.”
He arched a brow. “How are you getting out?”
“Easy.” I shifted my body so that my back was toward him. I slowly placed my right foot on the branch below, then my left followed. The nub closer to halfway that I used to get up, was a little harder to stretch to, but my foot stuck to the nub, then I jumped the remaining distance.
Wyatt’s expression was hard to read completely, but I could still tell he was a little impressed. “Maybe you are more flexible than I once thought.”
I scrunched my eyebrows. “Because I climbed a tree?”
He shook his head. “Because you adjusted your game when I was using your perfume. That’s being flexible. Others would have stayed rigidly to their strategy, even if it was a poor one.”
“Oh.”
He nudged my arm. “That’s a good thing, Marley.”
I rubbed my hands together. “Think the date has been fulfilled?”
He chuckled. “Scared you won’t be able to find me on the next round?”
“No. Fine, you’re on. Go hide.”
He smirked and walked in the opposite direction as I went back to the start. I could find him no matter where he hid. I was that good.
And so, we competitively played hide and seek until we exhausted all the possible places in our small section of the park.
Wyatt held out his hand.
I eyed it warily.
“I won’t bite.”
I slipped my hand in his and resisted the urge to squirm as the heat from his fingers enveloped mine.
“A fellow hide and seek champion. Well, done.”
“Champion? Can you really win at hide and seek at a champion level?”
“Of course you can.”
My eyes squinted as I tried to determine if he was being sarcastic or not.
“I haven’t had that much fun in a long time.”
“Really? It was hide and seek.”
“Exactly.” He nudged my elbow as we walked back toward his truck.
“I had fun too. Sage will think I’m crazy that I went to play hide and seek in the woods.”
He chuckled. “What’s the story with you two?”
“What do you mean?”
“She doesn’t seem …”
“Ah. She doesn’t seem goody-two shoes enough to hang out with me.”
“Well, that’s not how I would put it.”
“No. I know what you mean. We just sort of meshed when we had the same first grade teacher and never stopped. She makes me braver, and I calm her down.”
“I see.” He opened the passenger door, then walked around to his side. Once on the road again he asked, “Are we still good for tomorrow?”
I nodded. “Can I know anything specific about this gig?”
“Just be prepared for loud music.”
Definitely not my scene. “Okay. Anything else?”
“Nope. That should be enough. Oh, and should I pick you up at your house?”
My house? I could just picture how that would go. My parents wouldn’t think he was just a kid I tutored if he showed at the house while they were there. “Ah, no. Let’s do school.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, school then.”
We listened to the radio as he drove me back to my car. My brain swirled with thoughts of the gig. I had done more this week than I had done in the four years of high school. How I would keep my focus during classes the next day, I had no idea. Sage would know what to wear. She always had the answers when it came to fashion. And possibly about going to a concert too because I was in way over my head.