Into Their Woods (The Eerie, #1)(3)

I’m taken aback by the whirlwind of words that just tornadoed out of her. She grimaces a little and I don’t know if it’s because she’s worried I want mashed potatoes or she knows she just word-vomited all over me.

“No, I’ll survive without mashed potatoes,” I assure, and the worry disappears from her face.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Zara exclaims. She steps closer, the glint in her eyes now apologetic as she presses a hand to her chest and sort of sighs.

“I’m sorry, I know I’m rambling. I always do that when I’m anxious. This is my first time and I’m just so excited and nervous.”

I relax a little and my smile grows softer in understanding. She must be new to waitressing. I remember how I felt on my first day at my first job. Waiting tables is not for the faint of heart, especially if today’s been as busy as she says.

“You’re doing awesome,” I reassure her, tucking a strand of my dark brown hair behind my ear. Instead of scanning my menu, I set it down. “What do you recommend?” I ask, hoping it will make things easier on her. I’m sure she’s dealt with plenty of hard tables today, and I want to make sure that I’m not one of them.

“Oooh, our burgers and pot roast are probably the biggest sellers, but turkey pot pie is the special this week, and Micah just pulled a fresh apple crumble from the oven. It’s to die for.”

Every word out of her mouth is better than the last. “I’ll take a burger, medium rare, and the pot pie. I definitely want in on that apple crumble, but after I’m done stuffing my face on everything else,” I tell her, and she beams at me.

“I like your style, Noah. I’ll go get everything ordered and bring you a water. You want anything else to drink?” I shake my head while handing her the menu, and then Zara hurries off, red hair glinting each time she crosses underneath a light fixture. She leaves me with aching cheeks from smiling too hard and a warm feeling in my chest.

I wonder if Ashwood Springs, Arizona, will be anything like this place?

I’ve never lived in a small town before. Putting up with Patrice’s potential drill sergeant attitude at the clinic might not be so bad if everyone over in that little town is as nice as people here seem to be.

I look around, taking in the diner once more, and catch the eye of a man who’s brazenly staring at me. He’s got dark curly hair, a jaw that looks as strong as a Nutcracker, and a disposition that seems just as stiff. He might be handsome but the bags under his muddy green eyes show he’s also exhausted.

I can relate. Road tripping across the country was exciting in theory, but now that I’m three-fourths of the way through it, I’m ready to be done.

I offer the man a small, unassuming smile because that’s what you do when you accidentally make eye contact with a stranger. It seems this guy was never taught that polite social skill, however, because all he does is continue to stare.

Awkward.

He’s sitting in a booth on the other side of the diner with two other big guys. They’re all incredibly tall, like basketball players…but beefier. Oddly, both of his companions turn in their seats at the same time and join their friend in gawking at me.

Now that’s just fucking weird.

I shift my blue-green eyes to the window, hoping they’ll do the same, but I feel their gazes crawling all over me as I study the details of the park just outside.

Sunset is in full swing and the tops of the surrounding mountains are doused in reds, oranges, and purples. A few minutes ago, I’d have been caught up in how gorgeous the view is and how charming this little town appears. But now?

Unable to stop myself, I look back at the table of three men again and freeze when all of them are still watching me. The lining of my stomach frosts over as an unnerving chill takes up residence there.

What the hell?

They’re good looking. If I were a little younger and naiver, I’d probably be flattered, but something about their attention feels too intense. This time, I don’t drop my gaze in feigned politeness.

I know better than to paint myself as easy prey to anyone, so I take each of them in, one by one. There’s the curly-haired guy, a pale guy with a ponytail and ice-blue eyes that send shivers down my spine, and one with dark hair and eyes and a smirk that looks more wild than nice. I do my best to convey a solid you don’t want to fuck with me message.

None of them so much as blink as they continue to unabashedly stare me down.

Just as I start to question how safe I am in the middle of nowhere Colorado, Zara is back to set down a large water in front of me. As though she can sense my sudden unease, she follows my gaze to the booth with the three weirdos.

She pops out a hip and a whole lot of sass. “You boys drop your manners somewhere?”

Just like that, they look away, focusing back on their food and each other. She loses her glare when she turns back to me, shaking her head in exasperation. “Sorry. You’d think they’d never seen a beautiful girl before,” Zara huffs with a roll of her eyes and a click of her tongue.

I offer her a weak smile as she waves a hand dismissively, as if the guys’ aggression can be batted away like a bad smell. She waves off another table of men who are now watching us, shooing them like they’re a flock of naughty chickens.

My cheeks burn but I lift my chin defiantly, not sure what the hell is going on.

“Don’t worry about any of them, Noah. All the dens are a little rowdy right now. You know how guys get about a competition. You don’t have a thing to fret about.”