The Dead and the Dark(35)

“The nineties?” Logan asked. “It looks like it hasn’t been touched since the Oregon Trail.”

“I know. She doesn’t know why it looks like that, either.”

“Huh.” Logan leaned into the back of her seat. “She hasn’t gone out to see it?”

“Apparently not.”

“Then it looks like we’ll have to investigate.”

“You…” Ashley scowled, eyeing Nick and Elexis through the rearview mirror. Softer, she said, “Do they know what we’re doing?”

“They don’t care,” Logan whispered. “I’m pretty sure they think I’m joking. Seriously, relax about them. They’ll probably hang out with each other the whole time. I just didn’t wanna be totally alone at this thing.”

“You wouldn’t’ve been alone,” Ashley said. “You’re with me.”

Logan said nothing.

By the time they pulled into the gravel turnout at the end of the highway, John’s white Silverado was already parked. Through the trees, Ashley spotted the faint yellow glow of camping lanterns inside the bones of the old cabin. It felt like she was putting Logan on trial, or like she was putting herself on trial and Logan was the damning evidence. Either way, she was about to face the jury.

“Okay, guys,” Ashley said. “It might be kinda weird at first, but that’s just—”

Logan threw open the passenger door and hopped out of the truck. “Because we’re losers? It’s usually just you and your mean friends and you don’t like outsiders. We appreciate the heads up. We’ll be fine.”

Elexis followed her out of the truck, but Nick remained buckled in the back seat. He looked at Ashley and cleared his throat. “I was listening to you.”

Ashley flashed a tense smile through the rearview mirror. “Thanks, Nick.”

The four of them made their way through the woods, following the thumping sound of country music to the cabin. Ashley shouldered her way to the front of their small group to open the door. She prayed it would be just another get-together and no one would bat an eye at the LA socialite and her accompanying nerds.

A wave of heat and beer smell greeted them on the other side of the door. For a moment, the cabin fell silent. John, Paul, and Fran were all crowded on the sofa in the corner of the room. Bug stood next to them, leaning on the old piano with a can of PBR and wide eyes. All four stared at Ashley with matching creased brows, waiting for some kind of explanation. She’d barely gotten permission to bring Logan—bringing Elexis and Nick was a mistake.

Maybe this whole thing was a mistake.

“Oh, it’s literally a gathering of friends,” Logan said, bouldering through the silence. She pushed in front of Ashley with a broad smile and hoisted a box of beer over her head. “Greetings, rednecks. I come in peace.”

Ashley braced herself.

The silence in the cabin stretched for one more excruciating moment before Fran jumped up from the couch with a bright grin. She took the beer from Logan and pulled her into an awkward hug. “You look cute. I hope we’re not too boring for you.”

Logan laughed, short and sharp. “Anything’s better than the motel.”

Fran laughed too, brushing a curl behind her ear. She didn’t want Logan here, clearly, but she was putting on a good face and trying to make it work. Ashley hoped everyone else would do the same.

They made their way back to the ratty sofa with the beers, Elexis and Nick trudging along behind Logan like they were lost. Ashley sat on the arm of the sofa, and Logan, Elexis, and Nick sat on the floor. There were usually six people, but now there were eight. Ashley wasn’t sure how it was possible for the cabin to feel so empty and so overcrowded.

“I should probably introduce everyone,” Ashley said once everyone was settled in. “Logan, this is Bug, Paul, John, and you know Fran.”

Logan nodded with the vacant stare of a person who has not retained anyone’s names. She gestured to Elexis and Nick. “Do you guys all know each other?”

“Yeah, kinda,” Elexis said. “We go to school together.”

John checked the time on his phone.

The tension was so thick Ashley could cut it with a knife. She pulled a beer from the pack in the center of their little circle and popped it open, eager to wash away some of her discomfort. Bug eyed her and shook her head, but Ashley didn’t need the reminder. She’d caused this by inviting Logan. By not putting her foot down about Elexis and Nick. A Barton would’ve found a way to make this whole thing run smoothly. Her mother would’ve made this work. Country music thumped from John’s Bluetooth speaker on the piano, not quite playing loud enough to cover up the awkward silence. Logan pulled a beer free and took a long drink.

“God, why is it so awkward?” Fran laughed uneasily. “Let’s talk about something interesting.”

“What kind of guys do you like?” Bug asked Logan.

Logan traced the lid of her beer can with her pointer finger and didn’t look up. Somehow, Ashley understood the answer before Logan said a word. Logan’s nose wrinkled up and she said, “Uh, none?”

Fran and Bug looked at Ashley with the quickness of vipers.

“Like…” Fran drawled.

“Like none. I’m a lesbian.”

All at once, everyone took a drink. Blood rushed to Ashley’s cheeks. For a moment, she thought Logan was kidding, but it felt true. It felt right in a way Ashley couldn’t quite untangle. It was probably normal in LA, but people in Snakebite just … weren’t gay. Ashley bit back her surprise and donned a smile.