Chapter 136: Penny
The day its by in a cory, comfortable hate, hatside, the snow falls in slow, laży spirals, blanketing the trees and crunching softly under the brots of those brave enough to venture out. A few people there together a half heated troshall fight in the afternoon, their laughter echoing through the forest, bot’mast of us stayed inside, warm and tucked into couches, armchairs, and thick Hankets,
Some of the gings set up a video game toutament in the couner, the low hum et digital gunfire and the sharp clack of controllers fill often, one of them would call out. “Yo, Asher, is this what it’s really like!
the air. Every so
Ed watch his jaw tighten, his fingers sal slightly against his thigh, but every time I leaned in tank if he wanted me to tell them to stop, he just gave me a small shake of his head. Once, when I put my hand on his am, his thesh brushed over my knuckles, slow and grounding, his dark eyes meeting mine for a flecting second.
“It doesn’t bother me,” he mured, his voice low enough
only 1 could hear.
It didn’t sound like a lie.
Someone set up a Bluetooth speaker near the fireplace, so the living room was a gentle mix of soft indie rock, the crackle of the fire, and the occasional clink of boules. Zoe and Rebecca spent most of the afternoon playing a card game at the kitchen counter, their quiet snickers occasionally interrupted by the snap of a card being dramatically slapped down. Max tried to teach a few of the guys a card trick that he clearly wasn’t very good at, and the rest of the group was scattered around, some reading, some scrolling on their phones, some just dozing off in the warmth of the ledge.
I ended up half–curled against Asher’s side on the couch, Tyler on my other side, his head occasionally lolling against my shoulder as he drifted in and out of a hungover nap. Asher’s arm was draped along the back of the couch, his fingers brushing my shoulder every now and then, a subtle, grounding pressure that made my pulse skip every time it happened.
Eventually, dinner rolled around. Someone took charge of the kitchen, bolling massive pots of pasta and setting out an assortment of sauces, cheeses, and toppings like it was some kind of Italian buffet. I filled my boul with penne and drenched it in a rich, garlicky tomato sauce, adding a sprinkle of parmesan and d a handful of black olives, Asher’s plate was a mountain of plain spaghetti and heathall, the most no–nonsense, straightforward meal I could imagine.
We ate at the long, sprawling dining table, elbows bumping, forks clinking, the chatter growing louder as people shook off their aftemoon grogginess and the effects of their earlier hangover. Tyler sat across from me, his eyes still a little bloodshot, but he managed to muster a grin when someone clinked their
glass to get everyone’s attention.
Jenny, standing on one of the dining chairs like an overexcited camp counselor, clapped her hand together. “Alright, alright, everyone! We have a surprise for you all.”
en a murder in this very lodge.
People quieted down, a few heads turning curious.
“We’ve organized a game for the third night,” she announced, her grin wide. “A murder mystery game.”
A few people whooped, some clapped, and Max let out a loud, “Hell yeah!” from the other end of the table.
Jenny beamed. “So, here’s the deal, We’ll assign characters to everyone, complete with alibis, motives, and secrets. There’s been a and it’s up to you guys to figure out whodunit.”
“Who’s the victim?” someone asked, shoveling another forkful of pasta into their mouth,
“Well,” Irnity said, smirking, “we were going to kill Tyle, because, you know, he’s too loud
A round of laughter crupled,
“Hey!” Tyler protested, pointing a fork at her.
–but then we realized that Asher would just figure it out in like, three seconds, and ruin the game for the rest of us,” she continued.
we’ve decided to
under him instead.”
There were more laughs, some people clinking their glasses together, and (fale:Kiber’s am tense slightly bike me, the ghost of a smirk crossing Na Eps.
I leaned in, close enough that my breath probably tickled his ear. “Imagine surviving was just to get fake murdered by drunk college students,” I whispered.
1/2
Chapter 136: Penny
He let out a low, quiet chuckle, and his hand drifted up to tighten just slightly on my thigh, a brief spend tint sent a sliver up her min
“Alright, alright.” Jenny continued, still standing on her salt. “Here’s the setup: Asher Hayes, the mysterious, hmading Navy kry, her been found dead in the library. We’re not saying he had secrets, but like, maybe he had secrets.”
That earned a few mene laughs, and I caught the corner of Asher’s math ticking up again
“The roles are simple,” Jenny trent on. “Stay inside the main lodge. You can’t ask Asher who killed him, because, you imme, dead people can’t talk You beer. fifteen minutes to scatter, search for clars, and find your alibis, After that, the game begint.”
She started calling out characters and motives. Tyler was the cucky ex–football player with a gambling debt. Zoe was the jealous ex–girlfriend. Rebecca was the manipulative best friend. Max was the awkward, overprotective little brother with a secret crush.
When she got to me,
grinsed. “And Penny… you’re the sweet. lemevent dancer with a
I choked on my sip of water.
Asher’s thumb traced a slow circle on my thigh, and I shot him a look, but he just leaned in, murmuring, “Dark side, huh?”
I shivered, my cheeks warming, and Jenny clapped her hands again, pulling my attention back to her.
“Alright, you have fiftere minutes to scatter and figure out your stories,” she announced “May the best llar win.”
The room exploded into a chaotic flurry of movement, people grabbing their drinks and racing to different corners of the lodge, whispers and snickeri trailing behind them
I turned to Asher, still a little breathless from the warmth of his hand on my thigh. He looked down at me, dark eyes gleaning with something that felt a lot like mischief.
“You better hide, princess, he mumused, his voice a low, rambling tease.
I shivered again, grinned, and then bolted for the hallway.
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