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“Banjo’s here, so they must have come back.”

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My eyes and Lex’s eyes grew bigger as I quietly put her down. I took off the condom, tied it, grabbed my pants, and slipped them on. I looked around for a place to hide the condom, and I ended up sticking it in my pocket. Lex opened her mouth, and she made a funny face by scrunching up her nose. I shrugged and put my sneakers on as I listened to Gunner, Jeff, and my father all talking.

“I’ll text Will,” my dad said.

I stopped moving and reached for my phone as Lex began jumping up and down ever so quietly. I slid the volume button down just in time. Lex and I both let out a breath.

Then, she threw her hands up to her mouth. She began pointing down.

I looked at her and mouthed, What?

She was about to say something when her phone went off, and we both stopped and stood perfectly still.

“Well, here is Alex’s phone in the tack room. She must have left it,” Gunner said.

Lex quickly began getting dressed as I stood there, thinking of my last moments alive on earth.

They were good moments. I’m with Lex, and that’s all that matters.

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“Let me see if they are with Luke and the others,” Jeff said.

I closed my eyes and prayed that fucker came through for me.

“Luke, it’s Dad. Are Will and Alex with y’all? Banjo is here in the barn. We found Alex’s phone here, too, and Will isn’t answering his phone.”

I held my breath, waiting and praying. I watched Lex slipping on her boots. She slowly stood up, and we stared at each other.

“Oh, okay. Well, let Alex know her dad has her phone, will you? Y’all don’t stay out too late. Okay, have fun, and be careful.”

I slowly looked toward the stairs and then around the loft. Where could we hide if they decide to come up here?

“Luke said Will and Alex are with them in town. Guess they all decided to go play miniature golf.”

“Will’s truck is gone, so it makes sense,” my father said.

I quickly pulled out my phone and sent Libby a text.

Me: Libby, I need you to pick me and Lex up, but take the old dirt road and meet us behind the barn at Grams and Gramps’s place.

Libby: Why? I’m busy.

Me: Bullshit, you aren’t busy. If you want me to live another day and not die at the hands of Gunner, you will come get us.

Libby: OMG! Y’all made up! I’m so happy. Okay, I’m not too far away. I’m at our thinking place. I’ll be there soon.

Me: Give us time to get out there. We’re at Lex’s main barn by her house.

Libby: I’m so laughing out loud right now. Y’all had sex in the loft, didn’t you? Who’s there?

Me: I hate you. Gunner, Jeff, and Dad!

Libby: You totally owe me.

Me: Anything.

Libby: I’ll think about it. On my way.

I looked at Lex and gave her a thumbs-up. She nodded and smiled. We stood there and listened to Gunner, Jeff, and my dad talk about some stuff around the ranch. Finally, they started heading out of the barn.

As they left the barn, I heard Gunner say, “All right, well, let’s head on back and let Ellie and Heather know that Alex and Will are with the rest of the kids.”

I walked over to the edge of the stairs and listened to their voices as they retreated away. When I turned around, Lex slammed her body into mine and started kissing me. I was instantly turned-on again.

“One more time. We can be fast,” she whispered after pulling her lips from mine.

I laughed. “No. Come on, we need to get to Libby.”

She pouted. “For a minute, I thought your life was in serious danger.”

I frowned. “So did I.”

She chuckled, and we made our way down the stairs. I peeked my head out and didn’t see anyone. I grabbed Lex’s hand, and we began running toward the ranch’s main barn. It was the original barn near Lex’s great-grandparents’ house, so it was a good couple of miles away from Lex’s house.

By the time we got to where Libby was waiting, I was exhausted.

“I swear, I saw a mountain lion.” Lex panted and tried to get her breathing under control.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. “It was a fox, Lex.”

Libby stood there, smiling from ear to ear. “Are we good?”

I looked at Lex, and we both smiled.

“We still have some stuff to talk about, but we’re better than good,” I said.

Libby did a little jump and let out a small scream. Lex ran up to her, and they hugged.

“Come on, ladies, let’s go play some miniature golf.” pqdm.com