Alla Kar - Stroke Of Fear

   “Um-hmm,” he mumbles, scribbling on his tablet. “You say you saw his camp through there, right?”

   “Yes.”

   “These are popular woods around here. Someone could definitely be camping out there and be harmless.”

   Anger is rising, but I try to force it back down. “Doesn’t Camp Awesome own this property?”

   “Yes, they do.”

   “Then they would need permission to be there? He doesn’t. Obviously, Mrs. Jones doesn’t know anything about it.”

   At least Mrs. Jones is worried. She’s talking to another officer off to the side. One hand is wrapped around her waist and the other covering her mouth.

   “Right. Well, we had some guys go check it out, but they didn’t find anyone. Or any clues. Our hands are tied.”

   I’ll tie his hands all right. “Look, so you’re sayin’ you can’t do anything? Because we have a camp full of children. What would happen if someone was killed? Or a bunch of them? How would you feel then?”

   Snatching his glasses form his wide nose, he looks down at me through beady eyes. “Listen, kid. We can only do so much. We’re not super heroes.”

   “Obviously. Thanks for nothing.”

   I stalk off before he can say anything else. You’ve got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me. There is a strange guy creeping around a camp full of kids and the police aren’t going to do shit. What the hell else is new?

Eric is standing out on the porch of our cabin when I walk up. “What’s up with the police? What happened?”

   “Some guy is creeping around. I called the cops. He has a camp set up in the woods close by.”

   “What the…let me guess? They can’t do anything about it?”

   “Hit the nail on the head.”

   “Fucker. Want to play some X-Box?”

   Wow, one track mind.

   Eric and I spend the rest of the afternoon in the game room hogging the TV from most of the kids. When Cassie and Aubrey get back it’s already dark. Aubrey’s cheeks are bright red, and I see a Victoria’s Secret bag in her hand. I want to reach over and pull everything out, but I don’t.

   “Some kid told us the police were here earlier,” Cassie says, sitting down in Eric’s lap. “Why?”

   “Guy was creeping around the camp. He set up camp in the woods close by,” I say. I pat Aubrey’s leg, and she gives me a fake smile.

   “Did they find him?” she whispers.

   I shake my head. “No, they barely looked.”

   She has every right to be nervous. She had a guy stalk her for weeks before trying to kill her. Now some guy is creeping around. I’d be freaked out, too.

   “Why don’t we go back to our cabin and watch a movie?” Cassie pulls out some DVDs. “I bought some.”

   Eric sticks his hand in the bag and pulls out a few. “These are all chick flicks.”

   “Well, hello, I’m a girl. Haven’t you noticed?”

   He waggles his eyebrows. “I’ve noticed.”

   Aubrey’s quiet on the way to the cabin. She’s looking around, no doubt searching for any sign of a creeping man.

   “You don’t think it could be him, do you?”

   She tucks a dirty blonde strand behind her ear. “I called last night. They said he was still there. So, logically I know it’s not him but…”

   “You’re still afraid.”

   She nods. “Yeah. I guess I’ll always be afraid somewhat.”

   Easing my hand around her waist, I pull her closer. “You’re gonna be fine, I promise. I’ll keep you safe.”

   We watched some chick movies, but I hadn’t even been paying attention. Neither had Aubrey. Her eyes shot toward the window every two seconds. The blinds moved from the air conditioner, and she jumped. It fucking hurts to see her so frightened. I want to beat the fuck out of anyone who makes her this scared. No one should live on pins and needles.

   Eric and Cassie are making out on her bed when I tap Aubrey’s thigh. “Take a walk with me?” I ask.

   She squeezes my hand. “Is that such a good idea?”

   I smile. “Just to get some fresh air. We won’t go far.”

   She nods and follows me outside. The wind is chilly, so I take off my hoodie and hand it to Aubrey. She smiles and slips it over her thin tank top. If I’m not careful she’ll have all my clothes in her closet soon. We move toward the path between the cabins and walk along under the large oaks. No kids are in sight, and I see Mrs. Jones’ cabin light is off.

   “Tell me about Michael,” I say. I know she doesn’t want to talk about it, but I need to know about him. I need to know what I’d be going up against if he ever did get back to her.

   She frowns. “I don’t like to talk about him.”

   “I know. Just a precaution.”

   Her eyes close when the wind blows back her hair. “He was so great at first. Brought me flowers. Took me out for dinner. Always pulling out my seat and paying for our meal. And I guess it just changed. He started to get jealous over nothing and calling me twice an hour. He went crazy.”

   “Did he not get help?”

   She shrugs. “I mean, he never talked to me about it. I never brought it up because he started to scare me. Then my parents made us break up. I was nowhere around him anymore.”

   “He was obsessed with you?”

   Sighing, she moves her hair from her hazel eyes. “Yes, very much. It was like he had to have me or no one else could.”

   “But you did call? He was at the prison?”

   “They said so.”

   “Did you call your mom ‘bout it?”

   She shakes her head. “No, they’ll make me take that medication again.”

   I know I’m prying, but I want to know. “What medication?”

   “For hallucinations. After we broke up, I started to see him everywhere. My parents thought I was delusional. But, in reality, I think we all know it was really him.”

   Goddamn. I don’t even know the guy, and I want to beat the fuck out of him. “You know you’re safe with me, right?”

   Stopping, she buries her head into my shoulder. “I do. Thank you.” She’s quiet for a while, snuggling into me. “What did Jake want the other night?”

   A smile lifts from my mouth. I can’t help it, the guy gets on my damn nerves, but he’s…decent. “Wanted to make sure I’d treat you right. I guess he realized you’re really not into him.”

   “Jake?” She lifts a brow. “He said that?”

   I hold my hands out in surrender. “I guess he cares about you more than I thought. Even if he pushed you over a cliff.”

   She giggles into my shoulder and raises her gaze to mine. “I’m really glad I met you, Tanner.”

   “Me, too.”

   She leans up and presses her lips against mine. “When’s our next swimming lesson?”

   She’s moving her mouth toward my ear now. Oh, fuck. She takes the flesh between her teeth and pulls.

   “Well,” I swallow. “I can’t answer if you keep doin’ that, darlin’.” She laughs and pulls away.

   “I’m guessin’ two days from now. I think we both have a free afternoon.”

   “You think we’ll get in trouble if we sleep out there?”

   “If we get up early enough to be back we won’t. Why?”

   The sexiest look crosses her face, and she tugs on her lip. “Because, I don’t think I can wait any longer. I want you.”

   Fuckin’ shit. Lowering my hand down her waist, I palm her ass. Her eyes widen, and she tugs on my shirt. “I’m guessing you can’t wait either?”

   “I wanted to take care of you in an actual bed. We don’t have to do it in my truck, or I’d already taken care of you by now.”

   Her eyes are excited. “Well, I’m not hard to please, Tanner. The truck is our best bet. I can’t wait anymore. Please.”

   Goddamn. She’s begging me. “Darlin’. There isn’t anything I want to do more. You don’t have to beg.”

   Smiling, she turns to walk back to her cabin. “Where are you going?”

   “I’m going to take a shower…and think about you.”

   Hot damn.

Aubrey

Damn it. My stupid nightstand light is out. Rolling over, I tug on an over shirt and some flip-flops. Cassie’s out with her group of kids on the trails. Which is a stupid idea. First, Cassie isn’t camper material. Second, there is a strange guy stalking the camp.

   Not smart.

   The wind is humid, and my hair instantly sticks to my neck. A few campers are playing baseball in a field close to the cabins. They’re screaming at each other like banshees.

   “Go, run,” some kid yells.

   I watch as Austin runs the bases, fist pumping the air. He does a back-flip and slides into home plate. It’s not fair; he’s older than all the other kids. But, whatever. He’s staying out of trouble.

   His eyes avert to mine, and he starts to jog over to me. He may act like a big player, but he’s sweet. He had seemed so worried. Not that I wasn’t—seeing Tanner drunk was terrible. It broke my heart to see him so sad. He always seemed so put together. I guess everyone deals with things their own way.

   “Hey, Blondie,” Austin says, slapping my shoulder. “Where ya headed?”

   “To see Mrs. Jones. My lamp went out in my room. What’s going on?”

   “Ya know, the norm. Hitting on girls. Making out behind the oak trees.” He winks, but I have a feeling he’s not joking.

   “Thank you for coming to get me the other night. Tanner needed some help. He’s hurting.”

   Austin nodded. “Yeah, I know. He’s been through so much. Don’t tell him this, but I look up to him. A lot. I know he’s hurting, but I also know you can save him. Save each other. I don’t know anything about you, but I see that look in my brother’s eyes. That lost look. You’re good for one another.”