Page 97 of The Burbs and the Bees
“How does he know?”
“His old man told him.”
“Who’s his old man?”
“Steven Banks. You know him, right? He’s about this tall.” He holds an unstable hand up to his nose. “He overheard them at the Crow when they set the terms for the bet.”
With my throat tightening to the point of pain and my heart pounding behind my eyes, it’s all I can do to keep the car on the road. Tyler nods off again, and I let him sleep. A few minutes later, I pull into his driveway and open his passenger door.
“Tyler,” I say. “Wake up.”
“What’s the matter with him?” Beck asks, coming from around the corner.
“He had a little too much fun tonight. Can you help me get him to his room?”
Beck gives a low whistle. “Jay is going to kill him.”
“Jay’s an asshole,” Tyler mumbles, and Beck’s brow bunches.
“Never mind,” I say, not about to spread rumors, and holy hell, I hope this is nothing more than a nasty rumor, otherwise… Ugh, I don’t want to think about otherwise or how it will suck the wind out of my sails.
“I got him,” Beck says and lifts him from the car.
Once they’re inside, I drive my car to my place to leave it in my driveway for the night and cut through the path to Jay’s, desperate to talk to him. I’m sure there must be some explanation for all this. I pound on his door, but my knock goes unanswered. I turn and glance into the night and listen for sound, but all I hear are animals scurrying in the underbrush. Even Cluck seem to be avoiding me tonight. I walk up the hill, check the apiary and the new barn, but can’t find Jay anywhere. Perhaps he’s at my place, wanting to talk to me.
I hurry home, unlock the front door, and step inside, but Jay is nowhere to be found. Upstairs, I hear my parents talking quietly, and I knock on their door.
“I’m home,” I say. “Ah, was anyone by tonight while I was gone?”
“Were you expecting company?” my mom sings out.
“No, I was just wondering.”
“No one came by,” Dad says.
“Okay, see you guys in the morning.”
I walk to my room, my legs heavy, weighted down with worry. With the lights out, I stare out into my ba
ckyard, but all is quiet. My phone buzzes, and I pull it from my pants, only to see a text from Lucy telling me she’s back together with Nolan and won’t be coming after all. Not that I’m surprised. I run my fingers over the screen and text Jay, asking if he can come over to talk.
Minutes pass with no response, so I go to the bathroom and get myself ready for bed. Perhaps he’s out with the guys tonight. I mean, it is Saturday night, after all. They’re probably at the Shore Club dance. A strange sort of jealousy rises in me. What if he’s there dancing with someone else? Why didn’t he ask me to go?
Because your parents are here, dumbass.
I work to calm myself. He’s out with his friends, leaving me to visit with my folks, and Tyler is so drunk I’m sure he has no idea what he’s talking about. After giving myself a good hard lecture and reassuring myself that Jay and I will work everything out come morning, I flop down onto bed and only check my phone one more time.
Sleep pulls at me after a long day, and I’m a second from drifting off when a loud bang wakes me. I jackknife up and rub my eyes. “What the hell?” I hurry to my window and catch sight of a man sneaking into the woods. Jay? I peer into the darkness when the floodlight comes on, but he’s too far gone for me to see him.
I bolt down the stairs, the sound of rushing water reaching my ears.
“Alyson, what’s going on?” Dad asks as he leans over the railing.
“I’m sure everything is fine. Go back to sleep. I’ll take care of things.”
He hesitates for a second, and I’m about to tell him I have everything under control when his door clicks shut. I hurry around the main level, happy to find the taps off and nothing out of the ordinary. I relax but only for a second. Gurgling noises rise up from the basement, and I open the door, flick on the light, and dash down the stairs. I hit the cement floor and step into a big puddle of hot water. I yelp and back up. I scan the basement and spot a river running from the hot water tank. Oh no!
I hurry back upstairs and tug on my boots. I quickly make my way back to the basement but have no idea how to fix a hot water tank. I’m sure my father doesn’t, either. I need to call Jay. He’s out with friends, or at least I think he is, but he can hopefully talk me through this. I tiptoe across the floor, and something hits my leg. Please don’t let it be a snake. Please don’t let it be a snake. Getting friendly with Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner was one thing, but no way can I handle a snake. I glance down and spot Jay’s watch floating by. I quickly pull it from the hot water. What is his watch doing down here?”
