Book 3: Lovestruck All Over

Coit

After we bring the stag back to the house, Tommy and Scott are given the task of processing the meat so it can be eaten for dinner later. Lydia’s family doesn’t seem to care what we do in the few hours before dinner. She leads me upstairs to her bedroom which is very neat and organized.

It’s very utilitarian with a corkboard filled with dates and times. There are study guides and notes all over her desk. The room isn’t flowery and instead has a minimalistic feel to it. The space still smells like Lydia—pears, musky flowers, and vanilla.

I watch as Lydia dumps all our hunting clothes covered in dirt and leaves into a hamper. I’ve taken off the hunting boots and am standing barefoot on the dark blue carpet. We are both wearing clothes that don’t fit us well from one of the caches near where we killed the stag, so neither of us looks our best.

I see my reflection on the full-length mirror in the room. My red hair has a leaf or two in it. Th