Page 105 of Silent Shadows

fourteen

DAISY

Monday starts with me trying not to stare at Miles Adler like I don’t want to jump him and his slutty little glasses.

Which is difficult. Because now I know things.

Like the fact that he blushes when he gets turned on.

How cute it is that he falls asleep mid-conspiracy theory.

How his hands feel on my hips and how he tightens his grip in his sleep.

And how underneath all the wilderness competence and leadership energy, there’s this earnest guy who still seems genuinely shocked that anyone wants to stay once they know him.

Dangerous information to possess.

Especially when we’re trying very hard to act like normal colleagues.

As if this is the place for normal colleague behavior.

“Pass the batteries, Podcast Barbie,” Jax says from the equipment table.

Case in point.

I toss them at his head.

He catches them one-handed. “Aggressive. Nice.”

The Mystery Machine hums softly around us while everyone gets ready for the day. Taylor’s making instant oatmeal in a mug that says HOT GIRLS BELIEVE.

Across the Machine, Miles very deliberately does not look at me while reviewing route coordinates with Maya.

Which makes me want to look at him more.

“Daisy,” Maya says without looking up from her laptop, “you still riding with Miles today?”

Before I can answer, Miles says, “She doesn’t have to if she doesn’t want to.”

I glance at him.

He doesn’t look back.

Interesting.

“I’ll survive,” I say dryly.

“Debatable,” Taylor mutters.

Miles finally glances over then, quick and unreadable before refocusing on the maps.

Nearing dusk, we’re deep in the forest again. We’re following another lead tied to the canyon system, this one leading us near the old fire roads Miles and I walked yesterday to come home.

The landscape feels different today.

Heavier somehow, like the woods are waiting.

Pines tower overhead while sunlight cuts through the branches in long gold beams, illuminating drifting mist left over from the storm.