Page 89 of River & Rue

In the back of my mind, Teddy whispers, “Remember when a mouse chewed through all that wiring in the basement and started a fire? Small doesn’t mean less powerful. The biggest changes begin with the smallest choices.”

Another lump of emotion rises in my throat. I force it down, then force a smile.

“Before we hunt a potentially possessed golf cart, can we stop in the Lodge for breakfast burritos?”

His pinkie tightens on mine. “Exactly what I was thinking. I’m hoping we can get a few more people to help too, so we can wrap this up fast. I know it’s not easy for you to take a day off writing, much less two in a row.”

I glance at his profile, wondering how he could possibly know that. Maybe Ivy mentioned my inability to relax without beating myself up for it?

The impulse to ask vanishes as the Lodge comes into view. At the sight of Maya, Priya, and Larissa standing outside the doors, I yank my hand from River’s. Besides a quick inhale, he doesn’t outwardly react. But guilt ties knots in my stomach anyway.

“Sorry,” I whisper. “I panicked.”

“It’s okay,” he murmurs.

His voice says the opposite, but I can’t do anything about it because Maya sees us and waves.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m sitting on the Lodge’s steps by myself, peacefully sipping coffee from a paper cup. River, Maya, and Jae stand in the middle of the courtyard, presumably formulating a plan to find the golf cart. I can’t hear much of what they’re saying from here, but their expressions are pretty entertaining.

Dan and Larissa also volunteered to help. The two of them stand close enough to the group to eavesdrop, but I doubt they’re actually listening. The former is unable to take his eyes off Maya, and the latter stares hungrily at River.

I haven’t spoken to Larissa much beyond pleasantries. She seems like a nice person. But I’d still like to smash the remains of my burrito into her face.

Reminding myself that I’m a grown woman, I take one last swallow of coffee, then get up and toss my trash into the nearest can. As I sit back down, the trio wraps up their strategy session. Jae and Maya head in my direction, Dan following like a puppy on a leash. Larissa sashays toward River, who lingers to inhale the last few bites of his burrito.

When Maya reaches the bottom of the steps, she whistles to get everyone’s attention—everyone being Larissa, who reluctantly turns toward the rest of us.

“We’ll split into teams of two. Each team will search one of the four zones Jae has circled on our maps.” She holds up the postcards I grabbed from the Lodge’s foyer.

Dan’s hand shoots into the air and waves madly, making me retroactively sympathize with his teachers in school.

Maya rolls her eyes. “Yes, Dan?”

“Just wanted to say this would be a lot easier with bikes, and I bet you all regret not signing my petition last week.”

I swallow laughter as Maya groans.

“For the last time, no one signed your wrinkled-napkin petition because Claudia already told us why there aren’t bikes anymore. Too many injuries.”

Dan pouts. “I don’t buy it.”

Jae sighs with the air of an overburdened parent. “Returning to the issue at hand, whoever doesn’t have a radio will call Kirk directly if they find the golf cart. If you don’t have a phone or can’t get service, mark your location on your map and return to the Lodge. Dial pound-zero-one from the landline inside to reach Kirk.”

Dan bounces on his feet, his sunny disposition restored. “Aye, aye, Captains. Do we get to pick our teams? I call Maya.”

Larissa chimes in, “I’d like to be on River’s team.”

I clench my teeth and glance at River, whose mouth is currently full. His eyes veer from Larissa to me, but his expression is impassive. Like he doesn’t care which of us is with him.

My stomach sinking, I look away—right into Maya’s eyes. Her brows lift expectantly, her message clear. If I say something, anything, she’ll veto Larissa.

I lower my gaze to the ground.

“Okay then,” she says. “Jae and Rue, you’re the third team.”

Right as I stand up, a bellow breaches the air.

“Gilbert! You get back here right now!”