Creatures of the Night | Mike x Fem Reader

3: Reunion at the Lodge

Y/N = Your Name

Y/Nc/N = Your Nickname

M/Nc/N = Mike's Nickname for you

The final gate to the lodge creaks open as Sam, Chris, and I push through it, the metal cold under my gloved hands. The lodge stands ahead of us, its windows dark and cold against the darkening sky. Just as we step onto the path leading up to the entrance, I spot Josh walking down from the door, his arms crossed and a grin pulling at his lips.

"Man, I feel like this mountain gets bigger every time I climb it," Chris says with a mock groan, shaking his head as he looks up at the lodge.

Josh's grin turns into a smirk, his eyes flicking between us. "Oh yeah? Feels the same to me," he replies, giving a quick glance our way before looking back at Chris.

"Oh, come on, you grew up here," Chris retorts, not missing a beat. "It probably feels like it's shrinking."

Josh tilts his head, a thoughtful look crossing his face before he gives a small nod. "I guess that's true," he says, the smile returning, but there's a hint of something guarded in his eyes that I can't quite read.

Chris, never one to let a moment of silence linger, pulls out his cell phone and starts tapping on the screen. He looks up at Josh, holding his phone in the air like he's searching for a signal. "When are you gonna install some cell towers up here, man?" he asks, shaking his head dramatically. "I'm getting withdrawals already."

Josh's mouth twitches into an amused smile. "You got a spare million lying around, and I'll fix you right up," he says, raising an eyebrow.

Chris laughs, lowering his phone with a smirk. "Funny you should say that," he starts, sarcasm dripping from his voice, "I think I left it in my other jacket."

"Oops," Josh says with a chuckle, his tone dry. He gestures up the path where two familiar figures, Matt and Ashley, are standing. "Hey, guys... get up here okay?"

Ashley looks up from her spot on the stairs, where she's huddled, arms wrapped tightly around herself to fight off the cold. She smiles warmly at Josh, her cheeks flushed from the chill. "Yeah... Well, more or less," she says, her breath visible in the cold air. "But it's so good to see you!" Her voice carries that genuine enthusiasm that Ashley always has, even when she's shivering.

I notice Matt standing off to the side, his posture stiff, arms crossed, and his gaze pointedly directed away from the group. He looks like he's chewing on something bitter, his jaw clenched in that way that says he's got something on his mind but isn't planning to share it.

"'Sup with him?" Josh mumbles, more to himself than to anyone in particular, his eyes narrowing slightly in Matt's direction.

Before anyone has the chance to answer, Matt turns on his heel and walks back down the path we just came from, his shoulders hunched like he's carrying a grudge. Chris and Josh exchange a quick look before they shrug and head up the stairs past Ashley, leaving Sam and me standing there, watching Matt's retreating figure.

I take a moment to study Matt's tense posture, his rigid shoulders giving away his frustration. Part of me wonders what's going on with him, but another part - a bigger part - doesn't want to get tangled up in whatever drama has him acting like that. I've got enough on my plate without trying to unravel everyone else's problems.

Sam nudges me gently, her eyes following Matt's path before she gives me a look that says she's just as confused as I am. "Wonder what's eating him," she whispers, but she doesn't seem all that eager to dive into it either.

I give her a small shrug, turning my attention back to the lodge. "Whatever it is, he'll deal with it," I say, keeping my voice low. "We've got other things to focus on tonight."