Kiss and Don't Tell(7)

“Well, I don’t want to eat what little you have. I can dig into my backpack for something.”

“What, uh, what do you have?” Levi asks while motioning with his finger at my backpack. That smile of his is totally disarming.

I walk over to where Eli set down my backpack and unzip it. After moving my clothes to the side and digging to the bottom, I take out a bunch of protein bars, some applesauce pouches, and quite a few trail mix packages.

“Whoa, we hit the jackpot,” Eli says and then turns to Potato. “Aren’t you glad we invited her in? She has your favorite kind of Quest Bar. Birthday cake.”

“Is that, uh, is that the flavor?” Potato says, stretching his neck to get a better look.

I pick up a birthday cake Quest Bar and chuck it over at Potato, who catches it with one hand.

“Whoa, nice toss, Winnie,” Eli says.

“Thanks, I used to play softball. Played in college too.” I hold up a Clif Bar and say, “Peanut butter up for grabs.”

“I’ll take that one,” Eli says. He snags a blueberry muffin, too, and tosses it toward the guy with the book. Halsey, I think they said his name is. “Heads up, Holmes. Blueberry, your favorite.”

Halsey turns from his book for a split second to catch the bar and then buries himself in the pages again.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m going to have a bologna sandwich,” Levi says. “Want me to make one for you?”

“You know, a bologna sandwich sounds pretty good, actually,” I answer.

Levi perks up. “I think I just found my newest best friend.” He lifts off his chair and goes to the fridge.

“Under one condition,” I say, and he pauses. “I watch you make it right in front of me. I need to make sure no drugs are slipped in there. You know, just making sure when I do get in touch with my friend that I can tell her I checked all the boxes in safety . . . besides the whole eating a meal in a stranger’s house thing.”

The guys laugh and Eli says, “You knocked on the wrong door. We’re not in the business of drugging women, capturing them, or keeping them as our prey. We’re just trying to relax after a long-ass season.”

“Sounds a little like me,” I answer honestly. “Besides the playing hockey thing.” Turning toward Pacey and trying not to get lost in his eyes or stutter while I speak to him, I ask, “Would you like a protein bar?”

He eyes the pile of protein bars on the floor and his lips twist to the side as he decides. I find the little quirk of his lips endearing.

“I’ll take the apple pie and a pack of trail mix . . . that’s if it’s okay.”

“Of course,” I say. My hand feels shaky as I pick up his order and toss it to him. He catches with ease and then smiles at me.

“Thanks.”

“Yeah, sure,” I answer shyly.

“I have the ingredients prepped,” Levi says. “Ready to watch?”

Looking away from Pacey, I say, “Yup, ready.” I walk over to the kitchen counter, on the opposite side of Pacey, and consider just how insane this entire situation is.

I know any other intelligent human being would not have come into this house. Especially any other single girl alone with no cell service.

But here I am, about to eat a bologna sandwich, sharing my snacks, and getting wrapped up into this once-in-a-lifetime situation where I’m trapped in a cabin with a bunch of professional hockey players.

You can’t make this up. They played a game of “hockey” with coasters and umbrellas to prove who they were. That is—grown-up boys.

I’m just grateful to be out of the rain. If I’m taken into the basement later, then so be it.

But . . . please, Jesus, don’t let this be a basement abduction.





“Admit it,” Levi says while elbowing me.

We’re sitting at the dining room table meant for twelve, but we only take up half of the table. I’m sitting at the head of the table, between Eli and Levi, the two friendliest out of the bunch, and we’re finishing up our “dinner.”

“It’s good. Tell the boys just how good that sandwich was.”

I swallow and wipe my mouth with my napkin. “Besides the bread sticking to the roof of my mouth, it was pretty darn good.”

“The bread sticking to the roof of your mouth is all part of the bologna and Wonder Bread experience.”

“If that’s the case, then ten out of ten.”

Levi smacks the table and points to all the guys. “Told you, fuckers. Regretting it now, aren’t you?”

“Not even a little,” Potato says, leaning back in his chair and bringing a bottle of water to his lips.

“You know, we never asked, what brought you up here? Where were you headed?” Eli asks.

“Coming from Seattle,” I say, keeping things vague. Yes, they seem nice, but they also don’t need to know my life story. “Decided to head up here, take some time off. Never been and Banff has been on my bucket list, so I hopped in my car and started driving.”

“From Seattle?” Levi asks. “That’s almost twelve hours.”

I shrug. “Put on one of my favorite podcasts. I left around seven this morning. Hasn’t been terrible.”

“Are you staying in town?” Eli asks.