Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
We keep paddling out until we get to the break that separates the ocean from The Landing.
“They hit up Mom. She and yours sorted it all. I just said fuck yes to being on TV.” He pauses, sitting up on his board. I shuffle up until I’m straddling mine, legs hanging in the water.
“And they checked out?” I look over my shoulder to see their boat gaining distance. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m all for doing tours, obviously, but a Netflix doco?” I breathe out a sigh. “I just don’t know.”
I follow Cooper deeper into the cave until the boat enters. Standing on the shoreline, I pull my board out of the water and toss it down onto the sandy beachfront. The cave is darker because of the shading from the sun, and for as long as I can remember, it has always been the hideout spot for every generation of teenagers in Hades Hollow. Well, those who are brave enough to venture into it. I watch as Cooper drags his board out before helping pull the small boat filled with cameramen onto the shoreline. Everyone who knows Cooper knows how much something big like a Netflix documentary would help him and his fascination with getting famous.
“Thanks, man!” one of the guys calls out as he helps carry cameras and equipment off the boat. He catches my eye once they’re all on the shore, and I’m once again second-guessing what I’m doing here. Best friend aside.
Manny winks at me, unbuttoning his shirt before picking up his case beside him. “Lead the way.” He brushes past me and my fingertips prickle.
We spend the remainder of the two hours we have with them showing them around the cave. They cling to every word I speak about the history of the caves and the longer we are in here, the more I want to leave. It is a little after lunchtime when we finally make our way back to the shoreline and I wrap my ankle up as Cooper helps them load the boat with their camera equipment—what pieces they came with.
“Here—” Manny tosses an envelope at me as he hops into the hull of the boat.
I lean down to snatch it up from the sand, glaring up at him as they start sailing away. If this prick thought I would get money tossed at me like some stripper on a pole trying to dance for her rent—I tear open the top and pause when I peek inside to see a single black card with matte black finishing and white lettering.
Reopening of Whisper Manor
When: Sunday
Time: Midnight
The edges are curled with silver ink, and patterns of the ocean waves run down the middle.
“Huh,” Cooper interrupts from over my shoulder, and for a moment I forgot he was still here. “We are going.”
I shove the card back into the envelope. “I don’t know. I mean, who are these guys and how do they know about Whisper Manor? It all seems…” I fold up the envelope and shove it into my front. “Weird.”
“They were there this morning, so I guess they know the new buyer? Welcome to Hades Hollow…” Cooper grins at me, slapping my ass and running back to his board.
I panicked, I think. Looking back when Manny gave us the invite to the reopening, I told myself I wouldn’t go. I didn’t want to. But when I opened TikTok yesterday and saw how many people were attending this damn thing, it was inevitable that Cooper and I would be going.
“Shiloh St. Claire!”
I wince, placing my brush back onto my vanity table and giving myself one last look over through my makeup mirror. My finger grazes the metal embossment that is carved into the handle of my brush. I count the steps as they come down the hallway outside my room. Not loud. Oh no, careful. Always so careful when we have guests. There’s a soft knock on my bedroom door.
“Can I come in?” My mom’s worried face peeks around the corner, her brunette hair grazing her sharp collarbones.
My smile widens when she flashes a small cupcake in front of her.
“I thought we could share this before you go out and do what seventeen-year-olds do. Which, by the way—what do they do?” Her question is legit. She has every right to ask it since I don’t know myself.
“Well,” I say, swiping my finger across the thick frosting and sucking it into my mouth. The sweet sugar travels down the back of my throat. “We get drunk, have sex, and take drugs.”
She moves through my bedroom, falling onto my double bed.
“Har…har.”
I wasn’t joking.
Running my fingers through my wavy brown hair, I take a seat beside her. Mom forces the cupcake to my lips, smiling. “Come on. I made twenty-four of them. They’re your favorite.” Her eyes flicker, and I watch as she studies me closely.