Page 138 of Wallflower

Maple emerges from the kitchen, a massive platter balanced on one hand, my small plate of toast in the other. Rose’sannoyance with me flares to life once more at the sight. Well, that’s better than sadness.

The plates are placed before us, Maple making quick work of pouring the fresh coffee before departing. “Enjoy your meal,” she calls behind her, “holler if you need anything.”

“Will do, thank you,” I respond, not wanting to be rude.

I look from my plate to Rose’s, the difference is beyond comical.

Picking up my coffee, I breathe in its awakening scent. Rose’s voice breaks the silence, quiet and hesitant. “I want to come with you.”

Idon’t want to step foot in that place again for the rest of my life. However, if Ripley’s team has found anything pertaining to Chelsea, I want to be there for it firsthand, instead of risking the watered-down version Rip would probably give me.

Panic starts to take hold when Bleakcrest comes into view. The massive complex can be seen halfway across the island, and I wonder if that’s why Ripley’s house is on the opposite end.

My wet hair drips onto my neck, running down below the collar of my shirt, sending a chill skittering through me as the warm air whips around us. Rip’s got the top off the Jeep, face glowing in the early afternoon light. He doesn’t have a care inthe world, not even when he’s late as hell and Bucky’s called four times.

His fingers crawl across the centre console, tickling the skin of my bare thigh. I wish I was wearing pants and a baggy hoodie, but Rip assured me the threat of heat stroke is very real. The excessively large ‘Geology Rocks’ shirt that hits mid-thigh will have to suffice, because even though I know I’m safe, I don’t want to be gawked at. I spent far too much time exposed within those walls, and since being out of them, my strength is slowly crumbling. I can be weak, cry, scream, break, but I don’t want to. If I even let just a little bit of it in, the flood gates will open and everything will come crashing through, swallowing me whole.

Rip walks his fingers up my skin, worming them between my tangling digits, interlocking them with his. His silent support pushes my nerves back out to sea, the slow ebb and flow of the water washing them away.

“Are you sure you want to come? I can take you home.” He’s dressed down today, just a loose black tank top that shows off his muscle-packed arms, and camo cargo shorts. The spider and web tattoo on his knee peeks out every time he brakes or accelerates, shifting the muscles beneath the Carnotaurus skeleton ink adorning his calf. He abandoned the toe thong flip-flops when I mentioned how they reminded me of the way Maximus’s slapped against his feet when he walked. Opting for a pair of black Converse high tops that match the slip-on ones I chose.

I offer a small smile, though my leg bounces with more nervous energy. “I’ll be fine.”

“If it’s too much, say your safeword and we’ll get the hell out of there.”

“I have a safeword?”

“Dinosaur?”

A laugh huffs out of me. “Oh, right. Maybe I should pick something sexier.”

“No, it’s perfect.”

Heat, having nothing to do with the beating sun, warms my cheeks. “All right,” I reply. “Hey, speaking of dinosaurs, what’s your favourite today?”

“Raptor.”

“Why?”

“Guess.”

I wrack my brain, thinking of the favourite movies he insists we marathon. “Feeling cunning? Smart? Lethal? Devious?”

Ripley’s eyes assault mine, bewilderment buried beneath the lust in them. “Yes…exactly that.”

He quickly loses himself within his own mind. The next few minutes of our drive are quiet. I can’t tell if it’s from me, or the reality of what we’re driving up on. However, I need him to have his head on straight if he’s going to confess this massive lie of omission to his team.

A T-rex footprint air freshener dangles from the rearview mirror of the Jurassic inspired vehicle, swaying lightly.

“So, did you buy it like this, or do it yourself?” I ask, treading lightly.

Ripley doesn’t so much as grunt a response.

Squeezing his hand that’s trapped between mine, I try to pull his focus back to the present.

“Hey! Are you in there?” I joke.

“Hmm?”