It was the smell that instantly shut her up. It slammed into the back of her throat, tickling her gag reflex. Julie staggered back, away from the smell and sight, and collided with something that had long, strong arms snapping around her. She didn’t care whose hold she was in. She turned into their naked chest and mashed her face into their neck. “Julie?” The pulse at Mason’s throat hammered against her lips. “What...?” Words failed him as he stared at the open doorway. His arms tightened around her as he swore under his breath. “What’s going on?” Wendy appeared in the hallway alongside Rick. A second later, Dustin and Shaun were also standing in the hallway with confusion and alarm on their faces. Mason came out of his shock first; he slammed the front door shut and turned to the crowd with a trembling and clammy Julie still clasped to him protectively. “Mouse,” he told them with a completely calm tone. He even sounded amused. “Girls,” he added and she could almost hear the roll of his eyes.
