“We stole the key for the dormitory roof and made a copy once,” Tobias starts, curling his fingers through mine and giving me a little jolt of adrenaline.
“We still have it. We could take you up there sometime.”
A smile lights my face as we hit the first small drop and water splashes over us. The ride is over too quick, and I decide we’re going again when we circle around. It’s beyond luxurious, to just sit there in the seat and ride another round without having to wait in line. I doubt even presidents get this level of star treatment.
“I can’t believe you guys set this all up.” The twins exchange a look over my head that has me immediately suspicious. “What?”
“We all thought up the idea together,” Tobias offers, trailing off for a moment.
“But Church paid for it all,” they say in unison. “All of it.”
“Seriously?!” I choke out as we pass the pirate skeletons on the right, a make-believe storm swirling above our heads. “This had to cost …”
“Millions,” the twins say, lifting their hands up in a well-coordinated shrug before Micah continues.
“And it’s not just the money thing. He’s the only person with strong enough connections to set this up. They barely let royalty rent the park unless it’s after-hours. He pulled mad favors for this.”
“But why?” I ask, trying to talk over the sound of the music, raucous pirate song and laughter that makes the adventurous side of me wish I could board a ship and set sail with a cutlass and an old, yellowing map.
“Dunno.” Tobias sounds a tad frustrated, and I narrow my eyes. “Maybe he likes you? I’m not sure. He’s been acting weird as hell lately.”
“How so?”
“Sneaking off, making weird phone calls, I don’t know. He’s just been … off since you left.” Micah shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “And then there was a whole week where he was missing. I didn’t want to say anything, but it was that same week you got attacked. I mean, he was there the day of, but not the few preceding it …”
My brows go up.
“You don’t suspect him, do you?” I ask, because there’s been a teeny-tiny part of me that’s wondered. Church himself explained to me how sociopaths and psychopaths worked. That, and he was always fiercely aggressive about the Jenica thing. I’d just assumed it was his love for Ranger that spurred his temper, but …
“No, no.” Micah rears back like I’ve slapped him. “No fucking way. I’m just saying, he’s been weird. And he paid for all this crap. That, and he’s inviting you to a party with his parents? He’s probably in love with you.”
“What?!” I stand up and the boat rocks a bit precariously. Tobias pulls me down into his lap and wraps his arms around me, making my heart flutter. There’s a musty smell in here from the water, but I can still smell his cedar and vetiver scent. “That’s ridiculous.” The words come out in a snort, but at the same time, I’m not fully convinced it’s as ridiculous as it sounds.
“Maybe,” the twins say together, but they sound as unsure as I feel.
The boat bobs through the shallow water, and we all stay quiet for a while. I can’t believe Church paid for all this … for me. He either really does like me—as a friend or otherwise—or else he’s somehow involved in whatever’s going on at Adamson. Clearly, he’s not the original killer, but maybe he’s connected in a different way?
As we near the exit, Micah starts to stand up, and I reach out, putting my hand over his.
“One more time?” I plead, because this is the only night we get the park to ourselves. Even Church doesn’t have enough pull to make this happen multiple days in a row; I don’t think anybody does.
“You’re too cute, Chuck,” the twins say together, and then Micah flashes a naughty grin. “Maybe after this we can hit the pirates’ gift shop and buy you a cute little wench outfit to wear?”
“You better be joking,” I warn, giving him a look that’s cold hell. “If I buy an outfit from that shop, it’s going to be a captain’s hat, and then I’m going to run you through for insubordination.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Micah challenges, whipping his own sword out (not a double entendre, I mean like, his literal plastic sword). I smack it away, and he leans in suddenly, pressing his lips to mine, tongue teasing along my bottom lip. It happens so quickly, and I’m caught so off-guard that I let him in. “Got ya, Captain,” he whispers, his mouth hot, just as much of a challenge as his words. There’s a suggestion there, too, one that I’ve been resisting since … maybe since the assholes pinned me against the door at the Jaw Flapper?
