They were all smiling wide. I got to the door and Nathan held out a hand for me as I climbed the steps to get inside.

  The interior of the motorhome seemed like some sort of luxury apartment right out of a magazine. Everything was streamlined, bright, and with a lot of shiny surfaces. Immediately inside the door, there were two facing sofas in a velvety, soft leather material. The kitchen was mostly white and gray cabinetry. Porcelain tile made to look like wood lined the floor.

  There was one obvious bedroom toward the back. Beyond it was a what appeared to be a full-sized tiled bathroom, small bathtub with a shower attachment.

  This was the complete opposite of any idea I would have ever had of camping.

  “It’s even bigger when it’s expanded,” Nathan said. “You should see the space.”

  Luke pushed a button, and a TV popped out from behind one of the facing settees. There was another TV nested above the passenger side seat of the RV, and Nathan said there was a third in the rear main bedroom.

  “Where did this thing come from?” I asked them.

  “We borrowed it,” Gabriel said.

  Nathan, still holding on to my hand, tugged me further in. “Come get the tour.”

  They showed me everything, the queen bed and mini closets in the back main bedroom, the bathroom, the secret cabinets and storage spaces. Even how the dining area repositioned into another bed.

  “And the best part,” Luke said.

  Nathan rolled his eyes. “Not the best part.”

  Luke ignored Nathan and brought me to what I thought was just a wall with some decorative dents in it. I’d anticipated it might be more storage. He shifted two panels, revealing a set of bunk beds.

  The cubbies had been tucked in next to a half bathroom that I hadn’t even noticed at first glance.

  This thing had two bathrooms. And so much space.

  I had no idea why he thought these were the best, but I tried to understand. “They’re like little cubbies.”

  “Right?” he said excitedly. He crawled in and then curled a come-hither finger at me. “Come see it from the inside.”

  I crawled in awkwardly, on hands and knees.

  The moment I was inside, he slid the door closed and pushed a button. A lock enclosed the cubby.

  He settled in on his side, holding up his head on his arm. “See? A little privacy.”

  I was uncomfortably warm since I was wearing his puffy jacket, the RV was heated, and there were windows on the other side of the cubby space with the sun beaming in.

  But I got that he thought the bunks were fun. I smiled for him.

  “Hey!” Gabriel’s voice sounded, knocking on the outside. “Come on, let her out.”

  “You all already agreed!” Luke said. “When the lock is on, no knocking! It’s quiet time.”

  “We didn’t agree to this!” Gabriel said.

  “No, he’s right,” Nathan said calmly. “We did, technically.”

  “He didn’t say it was for getting Sang time,” Gabriel said. “We didn’t agree to that.”

  “So you don’t want that?” Nathan chided. “Fine. I get to...”

  “No wait!” Gabriel knocked again at the door. “Get out of there. It’s my turn.”

  I grimaced. Two weeks of them like this. While thrilling, I was a little worried they’d get too mad at each other.

  The RV shifted slightly and more footsteps sounded inside. North and Dr. Green’s voices trailed in, but they kept to the front of the RV.

  I unlocked the wall thing and slid it open, peeking out.

  The moment I did, Gabriel’s face loomed in. He nudged me back into the cubby. “Make room for me.”

  “Hey!” Nathan said.

  I scooted back, crouching in the small space, except Luke grabbed me by the hips, tugging me toward him.

  In a flurry of shifting around, I was lodged right between Luke on one side and Gabriel on the other. The space was tight, and Gabriel was so tall that he had to hook his legs over mine, and almost onto Luke.

  The door had been left open slightly and Nathan peered in. “You can’t sleep like that. Three in one bunk...”

  “If we fit, we sleep,” Gabriel said.

  “Remember it’s a loaner. If you break it, you buy it,” Nathan said. He walked away though, heading toward where North and Dr. Green were.

  “Did he mean Sang or the RV?” Luke asked, his tone amused, chuckling lightly at the end.

  “Probably both,” Gabriel said.

  “I’m a... loaner?” I asked, puzzled.

  Gabriel and Luke both started giggling.

  “It’s just a joke,” Gabriel said.

  I was about to ask more, but Luke shoved a hand over my face, encouraging me to close my eyes.

  “Try to nap, Sang.”

  There was no way it was going to happen. I could imagine we’d get too hot quickly. Especially me.

  However, their enthusiasm and fun attitude left me feeling better. A trip with a few of them... getting away from the school, and maybe all the trouble, for a while. Maybe they were right to be excited.

  Suddenly North appeared just outside the bunk. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”

  “North, they called me a loaner,” I said, although I couldn’t help giggling about it. The way Nathan had worded it made it seem like he was loaning me to Gabriel and Luke, so I eventually got what was making them giggle, even if Nathan hadn’t meant it like that. I was suddenly in a much better mood.

  North flashed a mean eyeball at them, to the point that both Gabriel and Luke shoved arms over their heads like they were ready for a chop.

  “We were kidding!” Gabriel called loudly.

  “Nathan said it first!” Luke cried out.

  North reached over Gabriel for me. I took his arm. He pulled me out from between them, right over top of Gabriel, then quickly closed the door and held it shut.

  The door rattled. “Let us out!” Gabriel said.

  With the way I was standing, I was positioned with my back to the sliding cubby door with North hovering over me. North kept a firm hand on the rattling door despite their attempts.

  He loomed over me, close enough that his nose touched mine. He smelled heavily of dust and grease and the usual North musk scent. “If you don’t come back in one piece, they’re dead.”

  I pressed my lips together hard and nodded. It was the only way to stop myself from giggling too much.

  He pecked me on the nose shortly, a light kiss that had my insides fluttering.

  He backed off, allowing me to get out of the way before letting go of the door.

  The door crashed open, and Gabriel fell out first, with Luke landing hard on top of him in a heap.

  “Ow fuck,” Gabriel moaned, gripping a knee.

  “I think I hit my nose,” Luke said. He cupped is face and then gently touched at his nose. It looked the same, no bleeding.

  At the front of the RV, Dr. Green was in the driver’s seat with Nathan sitting in the passenger side. The chairs for each turned completely around, so they were able to watch us.

  “We should have everything we need in here already,” Dr. Green said. “Let’s hit the road soon.”

  “When?” I asked, pulling away from Luke and Gabriel still in a heap on the floor.

  “Now, if you’re ready,” he said. His light green eyes were wild with excitement. “This is the best plan ever. Gabriel and Sang get to meet family, maybe. I get time off for good behavior. Nathan... well...”

  “What?” Nathan said, smirking. “I don’t get time off for good behavior, too?”

  Dr. Green shrugged. “You call it what you want. Vacation. Whatever.” He sat back fully, rolling his head a little on the headrest. “My mom stays here. Owen stays here, too. It’s like the best vacation ever. No one to tell us what to do.”

  “Silas and I will be following,” North said. “But we’re going to wait a couple of days first. You should take a long, crisscross path along the way up. Stop at campgrounds at random over the next week. Do you have cash?”

  Dr. Green shrugged.

  North tilted his head. “Where are your clothes?”

  He shrugged again. “I’ll find them.”

  North rolled his eyes and shot a pleading look to Nathan. “Help me. Please.”

  Nathan’s rusty eyebrows rose, and his smile widened. “I don’t know if I can handle all four.”

  “Me, too?” I asked.

  “Of course you,” Nathan said. “You’re the worst one.” He winked at this, and without speaking out loud, mouthed the words I’m kidding. He redirected his focus to a string at the hem of his shirt. “Don’t worry, North. I’ve got them. I’ll keep them in line... as much as possible, anyway.”

  “I don’t know how many winter clothes I have here,” I said. Each house usually had a collection of my clothes somewhere hidden in the back of closets. Mostly there was enough for a few nights, but I wasn’t sure if there was enough for a long trip, and there couldn’t be enough here for February winter weather.

  “We can buy some on the way,” Dr. Green said. “It’s probably for the best. You need more clothes, anyway, don’t you?”

  That wasn’t totally true. I’d been given a lot of clothes. More than I’d ever owned before. Between Gabriel and Victor, I was constantly finding new things to wear at different locations. They just weren’t all in the same place. Any winter clothes were thin, meant for the Southern climate.

  North scratched at his jawline. “Honestly, you’ve got a point. Buying in cash on the way up, instead of packing and moving suitcases around here where it’s likely to be more noticed.” He frowned. “Which means it’s probably a good idea if you moved this RV along soon. It’ll give you all a head start and less of a chance of anyone being able to follow you.”

  Nathan perked up at this, his blue eyes seemed to glow with excitement at this prospect. “I don’t suppose you’ve got cash already on you, North?”

  “There’s probably some tucked away in this RV, if it’s from us.” Us being Academy. North checked his pockets. “My wallet’s in the house. And Uncle probably has more.”

  Dr. Green’s cheeks bunched up so much as he smiled, it seemed like he might burst. “See? We’re already ready already.”

  I giggled shortly. Despite him being in a goofball mood, he was very clever and probably knew it was better to just get going once we had the RV.

  North sighed heavily and turned toward the door. “Maybe we should follow sooner—”

  Suddenly he stiffened and reached for his phone, checking the screen. He frowned immediately.

  “Something happen?” I asked.

  “Nothing important,” he said, stuffing his phone back into his pocket.

  Except it did it again, and he checked. And before he could say what it was, it buzzed again right in his hands.

  “Fucking Christ,” he muttered.

  I was about to ask, when Nathan shifted, checking his phone. He raised an eyebrow. “Why... why is this guy from school asking for Sang’s number?”

  Dr. Green and I shared surprised “o” face looks with each other. What was going on?

  North closed his eyes, groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Word’s out. Sang and Silas ‘broke up’.”

  I grimaced. “They’re asking for my number?”

  North tucked his phone away. “This is going to be a long week.”

  “Seems like a good time for Sang to be getting out of here,” Dr. Green said.

  My finger fluttered up, and I pressed at my chin. Word was out. Rumors flying, most likely. Were they just calling to ask what happened? Did they want information to gossip about? Or confirmation that Silas was right?

  Why did they want to know? No one from school talked to me outside of school.

  Nathan shot up out of his chair and tugged at my hand before drawing me toward the back of the RV. “Let’s get this big thing on the road. And get her out of here.”

  Every Heated, Stolen Kiss

  Gabriel, Luke and I took turns going through the camper, checking out the supplies and organizing what we needed. It was well stocked, including with some basic food like crackers and cans of soup, enough to get through a couple of days.

  Meanwhile, North went through the underside of the RV, checking supplies, adding in stuff he thought we’d need. Nathan became his assistant.

  Dr. Green went through the house, pulling out more food, blankets and other things he could come up with to borrow. He pulled out every available burner phone he could get from the house, too.

  We spent a good amount of time getting ready, enough so that Silas and Kota eventually showed up to help. School was just ending when they arrived, so they had gotten out early.

  “Needed to get out of there,” Silas said. “Couldn’t stand the questions.”

  He and I stood together in North’s room, looking in on his closet after having gone through Luke’s, to see if there were any suitable winter weather clothes for me available here. There were very few. I’d been working on a “Southern” wardrobe, according to Gabriel.

  I loomed in the doorway as he pulled aside North’s collection in search of anything that seemed to be in there for me. “So a lot of gossip going around about us?” I asked him.

  Silas’s mouth twitched. He didn’t look at me, just into the closet, and didn’t answer.

  When he didn’t say anything, I gazed at the floor, at the collection of black boots, storage racks and bins all neatly lined up and organized.

  Guilt plunged deep within me, a lead weight into my stomach.

  Was he upset?

  Was it me?

  He hadn’t even been in the courtyard, but he was the one to have to face some questions, answer them, and deal with the immediate aftermath.

  All because I couldn’t keep my head together for a few minutes.

  Silas eventually stopped to look in my direction. “Are you mad at me?”

  I gasped, and my head snapped up to look at him with utter confusion. “At you?”

  His eyebrow rose and he fully turned his broad shoulders in my direction. “Should I have not said anything?”

  I blinked rapidly, trying to understand. “I... thought you’d be mad at me.”

  His mouth popped open and he blinked. He touched gently at his temple, lightly scratching at the spot. “Why?”

  I stuttered but ended up saying nothing. My heart raced. Anxiety had caused me to worry about something that wasn’t even what he was thinking about at all.

  I’d been assuming he was upset about what happened. I tried to put together what I was thinking, but I couldn’t get it out.

  Gently, Silas took my wrist, tugging me closer. I moved to him. He held on to me gently. “I didn’t like having to say we broke up,” he said. “It felt wrong.”

  I nodded, gazing more at his chest than at his face. “I feel bad... because it feels like I made it happen. I mean... I did make it happen. I wasn’t thinking.”

  He gently lifted my hands, holding them in his large ones.

  “Aggele mou,” he said as soft as his deep voice allowed. “I have to remember how the others must feel when I get to say you’re my girlfriend in front of everyone else, and for so long now. I finally feel that pang of...” He seemed to hesitated at the word.

  “Jealousy,” I said, sure that he just didn’t want to say it out loud.

  “A little,” he said. “Only that it feels like I have to let go of you when at school. Now I’m going through what the others went through while at school, maybe when you were sitting next to me or if we held hands in front of them. Maybe it’s karma.”

  He was right, of course. And I hadn’t considered that. Depending on where I was, and who I was with, other people thought I was in different relationships. Mr. Buble thought I was dating Victor. North and Luke’s uncle thought I was dating Luke.

  How long before it all eventually caught up with us?

  I felt the guilt but I didn’t know how to fix it. “It won’t be for much longer,” I said. It was the way we managed to sort ourselves about things like this.

  Not for long.

  Won’t be for long.

  I wasn’t sure if it made me feel any better.

  Yet after I’d gone quiet again, Silas’s fingers drifted up to my chin, tilting it.

  He kissed me. Deeply. It was fast, and at first, I was breathless.

  He backed me up, until he could reach for the door behind me, ensuring it was closed.

  And he locked it.

  When it was secure, he wrapped his arms around my waist. His kiss deepened. I opened my mouth, and my tongue met his. His broad hands held firm to me.

  Titillating was the only way to describe the sensation of secretly defying everyone around us. We never broke things off. Never would. Who cared what others thought?

  When we were alone, we’d do what we want.

  Suddenly the light was out from above us.

  How did we always end up in the closet?

  Silas continued kissing me, ignoring the fact that we might have been caught.

  “You two alive in there?” It was Gabriel, right outside the door.

  My brain was on alert. I wanted to keep kissing Silas, but Gabriel was right there behind me. My heart raced as if he was watching this, nervous he’d be upset.

  Instead of answering, Silas trailed his kisses down to my chin and continued down to my throat, leaving me free to talk if I wanted. “We... were looking for clothes,” I said, trying to not sound as breathless and as casual as I could.

  “I took most of them out already. You still need more.” Gabriel rattled the doorknob. “Silas, North needs you downstairs.”

  Meanwhile Silas locked on to my neck. He gave it a gentle lick and then sucked on the spot.

  “Hang on,” I said breathless. It was a little exciting being aware that at any moment Gabriel could possibly open the door and figure out what was happening. I didn’t want him to see it happening, but there was some excitement knowing he could find out.

  “Sorry, looking for the door handle,” I continued, rubbing my hand against the door trying to buy time for Silas.