CHAPTERFORTY-SEVEN
Shane
“London was here,” Snow murmurs.
“What?”
“I saw him through the window,” she whispers. “He was just watching,”
“Like a creeper?”
She nods.
“Ariel should have the results back tomorrow,” I tell her as Silas hands us some beers.
“I am free of cow dung,” Austin says to try and lighten the mood.
“You are cow dung.” I chuckle.
“Wow, real mature.” Austin throws a piece of cheese at me.
I put out a little plate with cheese and crackers while the grill heats up. We’re just drinking beers and watching the rain. It’s one of my favorite things to do.
Relaxing with family and friends is the other.
Afton has Snow on his lap, feeding her snacks. I should be jealous, but I’m not.
And holy mother of all things holy on this earth, that man is fit and hung. If we had a measuring contest, he’d surely beat me in length and girth.
I said we’d only be showering, but within two seconds of getting in, that went flying out the window. I stroked him as he played with Snow. It got hot quickly but left all of us spent.
I wish London had been there, but I can’t allow him around here. Not until I figure things out. And Ben is around. Or at least Snow keeps seeing him, though I still have that niggling thought in the back of my head that Ben and Scott are the same person. I just don’t want to say anything yet, not without confirmation.
“I’ll put the oysters and shrimp on,” Axel says, and I nod, taking another sip.
I’m about to get up when a girl approaches the porch.
“Aspen?” Afton asks.
Now, I feel jealousy.
“Who’s this?” I ask.
“London’s sister,” he says, and we all stop.
“Wait, you were on the show,” Snow says, and the girl nods. “Oh, that’s right, you can only communicate with sign language.” Snow smiles at her. “What are you doing here?”
She waves her hands around in various directions, and I can’t keep up.
“She’s worried about him and scared of him,” Afton translates.
“We think he’s being drugged and brainwashed,” I inform her. “He’s not here because we sent him away. He was getting out of control, threw a chair at one of the contestants, and beat up another one. We got a hair and are having it tested. Once we know if that’s the case, then we know how to proceed. If we approach him now, he won’t believe us.”
She moves her hands again.
“She says thank you,” Snow interprets. I turn to look at her, and she shrugs. “I looked up a few simple phrases since she’ll be around a lot.”
“That’s sweet of you.” Afton kisses her, and I kind of wish it was me, but it’s not the right time.