Jennas lower lip trembled, her arm tightened around Abbys shoulder. It will be safer than the woods.
You really believe that a lighthouse, used to call in ships, set out on a Jetty that can be seen across the bay, is safer than the woods? I asked incredulously.
I dont hear you coming up with any ideas! she practically wailed.
Our old tree house.
We all turned to Aiden. What? Bret asked.
Our old tree house, Aiden responded excitedly, his brown eyes bright. Our old house is on Cranberry Isle, the area has been built up over the past few years, but its still relatively private. Even more private is the tree house that Bethy and I built with our father when we were younger
You want us to hide in a tree house!? Jenna nearly screeched.
I sighed loudly as I rolled my eyes. She was going to be my undoing, my snapping point, the end of my small tether on sanity. I was certain of it. I just wasnt sure if it was because she was driving me crazy, or because Cade was trying to console her so much. A day ago the stupid ass had been kissing me, and being so kind and understanding that he had made me cry for the first time in years. Now, just a day later, he was all over Jenna.
I had a boyfriend , I reminded myself fiercely. Bret was my boyfriend. To Cade, I had just been something to play with something to string along, and now it seemed he had set his sights on the far more beautiful, and pristine, Jenna Howe. I wasnt jealous of her, not at all. I couldnt be jealous of her small interaction with Cade when her interest in Bret, and their history, had never bothered me. That made absolutely no sense.
I was angry at myself for believing there was some strange connection between Cade and myself. I was angry at myself for having so many doubts about Bret, a man that loved me and would never do to me what I had done to him. I had been vulnerable when Id kissed Cade, Id let him, but I knew better now. Now that I knew what he was really like, I would never allow such a thing to happen again.
I wanted to believe everything that I was telling myself, but the awful truth was that I was jealous, and Cade had not taken anything from me that I had not willingly given to him. I could try and convince myself that what I felt for Cade was wrong and that he was a user, but I was not one to lie to myself. I never had been; I never would be. And I didnt believe that Cade had just been toying with me. I didnt know him well, but I knew that wasnt the kind of man he was. He was too straightforward for that.
Its a little bit more than a tree house, Aiden said softly.
Im not dying in a tree house, Jenna retorted.
We spent a lot of time on it; its more than a tree house, Aiden insisted. Its actually pretty well equipped for a tree house.
We havent been there in years Aiden, you cant possibly know what condition its still in, I reminded him.
He shifted uncomfortably. Ive been there recently.
I started slightly, my mouth parted in surprise. Aiden and I didnt tell each other every thing, but we shared more, and were closer than most siblings. We looked out for, loved, and protected Abby, but the two of us were closer in age, bonded by more shared experiences, and truly liked each other now that we were older. Going to the tree house didnt sound like something Aiden would do, he was not a nostalgic person, and it definitely seemed like something he would have told me about.
I didnt know if I was more stunned, or more hurt, that he hadnt. I didnt ask when, or why, he didnt seem to want to elaborate.
It will be a good place to hide out for tomorrow. We can come up with a better plan then.
Cranberry isle is a good three miles away, Jenna mumbled.
Then we had better get moving, Bret said softly. He slipped his hand into mine, squeezing it gently.
CHAPTER 10
It was a tree house, and I still refused to go inside it. I sat against the tree, my knees drawn up to my chest, surrounded only by the forest. There was a small stream about thirty feet away, I couldnt see it, but I knew its location from childhood memories. The sound of running water was like gentle music in the oddly still woods. Birds were not singing; there were no squirrels running amongst the trees. I did not hear any forest creatures moving about. I was terrified that the aliens magic ability to freeze things had somehow extended to them. How could we stop them if they were able to pull off such a colossal attack?
I could only hope that it was our presence that had scared the animals away, or that they still had not awakened in the early morning hours. I rested my forehead on my knees, trying not to think about it, trying hard to just block everything out but it was almost impossible. Aiden had been right; the tree house was in good shape, excellent even. I didnt think it was the new home owners that had kept it in such good condition, Aiden and I had not disclosed its location when we moved from Cranberry isle. This was our tree house; neither of us could stand the thought of anyone else playing amongst its walls.