Page 57 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)
“He’s got people on the outside,” Evan snaps.
“Furthermore,” I hurry on before my best friend can take control of this meeting, “someone was in her room. Rifling through her stuff. It’s what triggered the most recent—”
The room breaks out into chaos.
Maybe I should’ve led with that bit of information?
I lean back in my chair and wait for their outrage to simmer down, and I tap the supplies in front of me. “That’s what the cameras are for. They can sync to all of our phones. Just in the public spaces and outside, I’m not that big of a dick.”
“And Wren?” Evan’s voice is cold. “You didn’t give her a chance to explain this to us—”
“She wasn’t going to.” I laugh. “You’re such a fucking idiot, plying her with milk and cookies like that’s going to solve anything.”
“And cameras are?”
“So we can catch the bastard trying to get to her—”
“Shut up.” Archer stands, knocking his chair back. “You two need to figure your shit out on your own time.”
I look away from Evan and refocus on the important bits.
“Someone came in here without our permission. That’s unacceptable.” I lift my chin. “But furthermore, we need to protect Wren.”
“Agreed,” Evan says.
“Yeah,” Grant chimes in. “Obviously. I think we’re all in agreement about that.”
“Okay, so let’s get these cameras installed.” I slide one of the boxes to Grant and Sully. “That’s for the front porch.” Another to Taylor and Archer. “Back door.” I keep one for me and shove the other at Evan. “That’s an interior one.”
“Let’s do this.” Archer claps.
“One more thing,” I call out. “Wren’s moving back into my room. Effective immediately.”
I already moved her stuff out of that dinky closet. While I was in there, picking up her clothes and bedding, my stomach knotted with guilt. She’s been sleeping on the floor, essentially. With nothing more than a few inches of blankets as cushion.
So, yeah. Before the game, I made sure no trace of Wren was left in that small space. She’ll just have to deal with it.
And me.
The guys don’t really balk at that, sharing some knowing smiles. I ignore them and take my camera, heading for the kitchen. Just in case the outside camera doesn’t catch someone coming in, this is basically a backup.
I bought top-of-the-line shit. This one is tiny and practically undetectable.
In less than twenty minutes, the cameras are all set up and synced to our phones. We meet back in the kitchen, learning how to use the app, when Evan nudges me.
“I need to talk to you,” he murmurs.
Great. “Okay…”
I follow him around the corner. As soon as we’re out of sight, he fists the front of my shirt and shoves me up against the wall.
“Jesus. You gonna make out with me, E?”
“You have no fucking right to steamroll her,” he growls. “You’ve hated her forever. And I get it, you didn’t sign up for a project. Your best friend suddenly gets a little sister every few months who tags along with us. But you went from verbally sparring with her tohatingher. Now this?”
“What do you want me to say?”
I know what he wants. He wants me to explain the shift. As much as I tried to hide it from him, after I was arrested, I just couldn’t hold it together. Wren did a great job of avoiding me, scampering off in the hallways like I was going to eat her for breakfast.