Cabin Fever | ✓

(65) You're Finally Worn Out

Marley watched Aiden casually pick the lock of the back entrance of the building of their towns' Aquaventure Water Park, her back pressed against the brick wall and her heart pounding in her ears.

He paused to raise an eyebrow at her position, and the spooked expression on her face.

"This was your idea, spitfire. Backing out already?" He had a teasing glint in his eyes.

Her dignity was at stake here, so she straightened as best as she could. Her hazel eyes were still scanning frantically though, ears perked for sirens that never came, "No. Just hurry," she hissed.

Aiden chuckled, shaking his head before going back to his lock picking, "For someone so determined to be dangerous and spontaneous and fun, you sure look worried about the consequences."

Aiden was speaking casually, his back turned and his stature relaxed. He wasn't even attempting to whisper, his words carrying across the deserted back lot with zero caution. Marley was nearly trembling against the wall, wishing she could say she didn't want to back out right about now.

"Cameras?"

"Not in this zone and not inside the park. We avoided the rest."

"Alarm system?"

"Not an issue."

She shot her head to narrow her eyes at him, "Why not an issue?"

Something clicked as she spoke, redirecting her attention to the metal door opening. It revealed a narrow hallway, lit by LED floor lights. Aiden lifted from his crouch and grabbed her bag. He paused in the doorway, holding out his hand.

"Ready?"

She could see in his eyes that he was giving her a scot-free chance to back out. No teasing. All seriousness. But Marley's nervousness was fuel to continue on instead of leave — this was outside of her comfort zone and that's exactly what she asked of Aiden. She took his hand, realizing the adrenaline was beginning to make her feel alive. In every single good way.

"Yes," she affirmed with a smile, "Let's do this. Does this make me a bad girl now?"

Aiden led them foreword down the hallway, his hand tightly clasped in her own. Still, he didn't seem worried about being caught at all. It helped Marley relax her shoulders.

"You really are something else Hoover," he sighed, shaking his head as he led them into a room on the right. Marley could smell the chlorine now.

Where Aiden led them was an office, closing the door behind them and walking over to a metal control panel beside the desk, "Flashlight."

She scurried up beside him, taking the flashlight he'd given to her out of the pocket of her jacket. He gestured for her to flash it at the panel, where at least a dozen switches were displayed with various names and purposes. Marley read them carefully, but Aiden wasted no time flicking specific ones. She jumped at the distant sound of whirring and rushing water.

"It'll take about twenty minutes for the water to cycle through all the pipes, for the waterslides. The pool lights are on but the ceiling lights will be too bright through the windows," Aiden closed the panel while she dropped the flashlight, flicking it off.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling at her frazzled expression. They were currently in a dark office they broke into the building of, twenty minutes away from enjoying a whole water park to themselves —while it was closed for the night.

"Well, what do you think, young grasshopper?"

Marley bounced on her toes in excitement, lacing her fingers together around his neck as she beamed up at him, "I think lesson one of how to be a reckless bad boy is going very well, Mr. Matthews. You're too good at this not to have done it before."