Page 63 of Hunt Me

Denver and I come to a stop, watching as he flings himself off the porch and grabs a shovel leaning against the railing. He swings up too fast and knocks himself in the forehead, and I hear a thud and then a myriad of curses as he leans against the railing to catch himself from falling.

“Damn you!” I think he’s talking to the shovel, muttering at it like it’s personally betrayed him. And then, as we get closer, he starts swinging it onto the ground. Dirt shoots up with each downward hit, and Denver’s eyes widen with each erratic movement.

I clear my throat, and the man glances up, sees us, and stops like he hadn’t just gotten into a fight with a shovel.

His face shifts into something almost normal, and he sends up a wave. “Denver!” he says and signs at the same time.

The shovel is forgotten, falling onto the ground with a loud clatter, and he rushes toward us.

‘That’s Leaf,’ Denver says as the man trips over something, arms windmilling out beside him, before he corrects himself.

I nod, and Denver grins as Leaf skids to a stop before us.

‘Hi. What’s up? Why you here?’ His gaze falls to the gash on Denver’s forehead, and his lips fall. ‘You’re hurt?’

His gaze flicks to me, and he scowls. Not sure what that means, but I think it’s not friendly.

‘No, it wasn’t him. It was…’ Denver sighs loudly, and Leaf reaches out and pulls him into a hug.

‘You need drink,’ he signs when he pulls back. ‘We can chat-chat.’

Denver nods and lets Leaf lead him toward his house, and I’m left to follow.

He may need to time to chat to a friend, but I’m not leaving him alone.

Not now. Not ever.

16

DENVER

‘So tell me everything.And not hearing story. Deaf one.’

I let out a laugh as Archie and I take a seat at Leaf’s new island. Running my hand along the cool stone, I sigh again.

‘So when I was three…’

Leaf rolls his eyes and grabs the shaker from the cabinet. ‘Be serious. Tell-me.’

I nod and then peer over at Archie, who is watching this all unfold. I’m so curious how he’s going to react to Leaf and his chaos.

‘Wait, where Thorne?’

‘Out. Shopping. Stop trying to go off topic.’ His finger zigzags around the other one, and then he arches an eyebrow at me.

‘Fine.’ I take a short breath, and my shoulders sag on my exhale. ‘My stalker might be back. Or I have a new one.’

The shaker falls onto the counter, and he rushes toward me, his eyes wide. Archie moves a little closer, but Leaf isn’t deterred. There isn’t much that could bother this guy, to be honest. When you’re a burnt-out interpreter, you’ve seen it all.

‘He did this? Tell me.’

‘Yes.’

Leaf glances over at Archie as though he’s noticing him for the first time, then looks back at me. ‘When? Where?’

‘On campus. Someone’s been following me and…’ I point to my forehead, where the wound is the most visible.

He frowns and then glances at Archie again. ‘You Deaf?’