Read Online RAW by Kelly Favor - Free Book Online

property—“ the man started to shout, but as soon as he got a better look at Elijah, he put the shotgun to his side, and his ferocious expression turned first shocked and then ecstatically happy. “Holy shit! It’s you!”
    “Can I put my hands down now?” Elijah said.
    “Hell yes! Get over here you crazy bastard!” The blond man said.
    So I guess this is Trey, she thought as he started walking towards Elijah.
    Before long they were hugging and looking each other over. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their voices were excited and enthusiastic, and punctuated by a lot of bursts of laughter.
    “Did I scare your lady?” Trey said, turning to the car and approaching.
    Caelyn got out slowly, feeling a strong urge to leave. She didn’t want to stay here—not this place, not now. Something about it simply felt wrong.
    But Elijah looked so happy, and they couldn’t just leave. She put on her best smile as Trey’s dogs began nosing at her legs and whining for attention.
    “Don’t mind Goose and Maverick,” Trey said. “They’re just damned scavengers, but they’re harmless and they hardly ever bite.” He held out his large hand, while the other held the shotgun by the long barrel as if it was a cane.
    “Trey.”
    Caelyn shook his hand. “I’m Caelyn. Elijah said you’re a really good old friend of his.”
    Trey cocked an eye at Elijah. “Old? You told her I’m old?”
    “Don’t mess with her, Trey,” Elijah laughed. “And where’s your girlfriend?”
    “Who, Paris?” Trey said, suddenly hacking up phlegm and turning his head to spit into the dirt nearby. “She’s hungover, sleeping it off.”
    “And the noise didn’t wake her?” Elijah laughed.
    “A megaton bomb wouldn’t wake Paris when she’s out.” He squinted as if mentioning his wife’s name gave him heartburn. “Anyway, enough of my babbling.
    Come on inside, for god’s sake. I want to hear what brings you out to the boonies at this unholy hour. I figure it must be something good.”
    Elijah gave Caelyn a look as if to ask if she was okay.
    She smiled as best she could. Then they went inside.
    Elijah had been right when he’d said that Trey was a packrat. The house was filled with boxes and various furniture and objects that might have been for sale, or perhaps it was all part of the house. She couldn’t tell the difference. The clutter was bad enough that it made her think of that TV show, Hoarders, where the compulsive people had to be forced to throw out the junk they thought was so valuable.
    “This is my home,” Trey said, as he led them through a maze that cut through the stacks of boxes and pieces of furniture, knickknacks and trash. “Let’s go to the basement where we can sit. I’ll brew us some coffee.”
    They went downstairs, where somehow there was a bit less clutter, although there were still boxes stacked just about everywhere. But Trey had cleared out space for a desk and a computer, plus a sofa and recliner. Nearby, a small table housed an electric teakettle and tiny microwave.
    Trey leaned his shotgun against the wall behind his desk and then went to the table and grabbed some mugs from out of a box nearby. He put the mugs down and started the kettle. “So,” he said, opening a jar of Folgers instant coffee. “What brings you to the boonies?”
    Elijah was standing awkwardly next to Caelyn. She wanted to grab his arm and pull him with her as she ran up the stairs and out of this house. But she calmed her nerves. Sure, the place was a little claustrophobic, and Trey liked to carry a shotgun around, but other than that he seemed perfectly fine.
    “We…I…ran into a little trouble with the law.”
    “You don’t say.” Trey snorted, then looked up at them. “Go on, sit down, make yourselves comfortable.”
    Caelyn sat down on the sofa. It smelled like wet dog. She tried to relax, affixing a smile to her face. Elijah sat next to her, but leaned forward. “I was hoping we could maybe chill