Page 25 of Camera Stays On

She paused and seemed to think for a moment, then she shrugged. “Because of what he did to Ray.”

Chapter 10

Andi

THE MOMENT MY boots touched the ground in Michigan, I was yanked off my feet and into large, burly arms. I yelped in surprise and almost smiled, thinking it was Ash—until I looked up and saw it was Sawyer who’d grabbed me. I righted myself and gently pushed him away with a laugh.

“Well, hello to you too, Sawyer.”

“How was your ride? Where do we get your bags?” In an all-too-familiar way, he held his phone up, recording.

“The ride was fine.” I shifted my gym bag over my shoulder. “This is it.” I pointed to it.

I’d used my last paycheck to buy more underwear and another change of clothes, but otherwise, I had nothing but what I’d taken to the gym the night of the fire. Sawyer’s large check didn’t pay out until I finished the movie.

“Oh, right.” He nodded solemnly. “Did they figure out what caused it?”

We started walking to his car, his phone still recording.

“The patrons smoked pretty regularly in the screening rooms. They think a cigarette started it. Can you stop filming, please?”

His jaw ticked as he rolled his eyes and pressed a button on the screen, shoved his phone into his pocket, then shrugged.

“Damn. Well, at least you weren’t there when it happened. Come on, let’s get you home.”

I paused at the car door, staring at him as he ducked inside.

Home?

Unease settled around me as he got us onto the highway and started the trek back toward Collingwood. This place wasn’t my home anymore. Why would he say it like that? I shuddered and stared out the window. Sawyer rattled on about the movie and how excited he was to get the crew together tomorrow to meet, but my insides were too twisted to pay much attention.

This visit would be much longer than a day for a funeral. I’d be here upwards of a month. That gave me more time to see people I’d hoped to never see again. I turned my head and eyed Sawyer up and down. With a sigh, I supposed he might be the worst one—and if I could face him, I could face everyone else.

In the blink of an eye, we were pulling into Sawyer’s drive. I stared up at the house that had been meant for him and me. A simple, two-story, split-level house with white siding and brick accents. It looked well-kept, with the lawn mowed and the siding power-washed. Suddenly, a pit of dread dropped in my belly.

“Is it just you here?” I asked. The thought of staying with him and a new girlfriend made me ill. Just because I didn’t want him didn’t mean I wanted to watch him and someone else.

“Nah, Ash stays here, too, but this is all temporary.” He climbed out of the car and walked to the front door, where he waited for me to join him. He pointed to the for-sale sign in the yard. “I have to sell the place to help him pay for the haunt. He’ll be around later.”

“Is he at work now?” We went inside, and I was greeted with the smell of leather, soap, and a warm hint of what could be a vanilla candle.

“Yeah, getting that haunt ready. He’s been wanting that for years now. Anyway, this is it. Want a fresh tour? It’s been a while since you’ve seen the place. I have a surprise for you.”

His eyes lit up, and my unease at being alone with him grew.

“I guess. Can I put my bag down?”

“Sure, up in your room.”

My room?

I assumed I’d be sleeping on the couch, not given an entire room. I shifted uncomfortably. All of this felt too… I couldn’t put my finger on what he was doing, but I knew I didn’t like it.

We walked through the house, and I noted how warmly it was decorated. Mostly a mix of horror movies and cheesy country décor à la live, laugh, love, but it felt like it was being lived in. It didn’t look like this before.

“You have dogs?” I asked, noting the two oversized pillows in the corner of the living room.

“Blair and Toby, yeah. Asher takes them with him while he’s working most days. They’re more his than mine.”