Chapter 10 Ripley #2
After the girls get to their assigned rooms, we drop off their luggage and shuffle them into the Royal Fare. We have a super-tight schedule, so there is no time for relaxing this evening.
When we arrive, Nathan is dressed as an elf, standing in front of a table of ten preassembled gingerbread houses.
On another table is an absurd amount of candy and treats, ready to decorate the houses: glass jars filled with peppermint candies and brightly colored gummies coated in sugar.
And bowls of salty offerings, along with chocolate and marshmallows galore, adorn every available space.
‘Did you buy out the whole store?’ I whisper to Melika, who is leaning against the wall.
It’s muggy with all the lights and camera crew. Plus, they can’t turn on any air because it screws with the sound. I can’t wait to see what a drippy mess the royal icing turns into on these creations!
‘No, just mildly raided several. I didn’t want to take all the stuff and leave some poor kid crying in a shopping cart.’
I smile as she hands me a pack of Hot Tamales. I pop one in my mouth, motioning to Nathan as they set the girls up for the shot to begin. ‘Since when is Nathan on camera?’ I ask through a mouth of spicy candy.
Melika grins, snapping a picture of Nathan. ‘Since your mother dragged him over – we needed an elf to present.’
Nathan has exaggerated rosy cheeks, pointed ears and a striped green-and-white costume with red pointed shoes. He does a spin when he notices us watching him.
The cameras start rolling, and the girls are instructed to decorate their houses the best they can, because tomorrow Garrick will be judging. The winner will get the first one-on-one date.
Knowing this will take a while, I settle into a chair near the back, hoping Mom will be too preoccupied to find something for me to do.
The girls laugh and chat as they make their gingerbread houses, and I find myself a little jealous.
I can’t remember the last time I did anything festive like that, or if I ever did.
I didn’t think I cared much about Christmas, but being surrounded by it, I wonder if I just pretend to make myself feel better.
Twenty minutes in and I am getting a little antsy, wondering if I can get away to do homework while they finish. Then I look out the window and spot a pair of binoculars.
‘I’ll be right back,’ I whisper to Melika. Slipping out unnoticed, I weave around the side of the castle until I see the culprit behind the spyware.
‘Absolutely not.’ I yank the binoculars out of Garrick’s hand and step in front of him to block his view.
‘Hey,’ he says, trying to take them back from me, but I whirl around so he has to do a spin with me. ‘Those are mine.’
He attempts another grab, but I shove them behind me. His hand skims my waist, and my breath hitches as our cheeks brush. I nearly drop the binoculars, but manage to step away.
Taking a calming breath only does so much when I have to deal with him constantly doing the opposite of what he’s told.
‘You’re supposed to be anywhere but here!
’ Annoyance drips from every word. Why must I babysit him?
But I know Mom will freak out if she finds him.
She’s so dramatic, she’ll think it’s the end of the world.
‘But here’s where all the excitement is.’ He grins.
‘Save it for the showmance. Come on.’ I grab the front of his shirt and drag him away from the windows. We’re up in one of the towers off-limits to guests. ‘How do we get out of here?’ I huff after a minute, not knowing which way to go so he won’t pass the girls.
He wraps his hand around mine, and my chest does this weird skipping thing. Maybe it’s something I ate.
‘Why should I tell you? Maybe I like being up here.’
‘Look, can we both agree this thing needs to succeed?’ I try to look over his shoulder, so I don’t have to stare directly into his handsome face. Over the last few weeks, I’ve discovered that as much as he annoys me, his storybook hero-worthy face does not.
‘I don’t know. Can we agree on anything?’ I don’t like how his eyes follow the lines of my face, studying me, trying to figure me out like I’m a gift-wrapped present and he wants to know what’s hidden underneath.
I don’t want him to know me. I just want to get this over with.
‘Garrick.’
‘Ripley.’ He steps closer, and I stand my ground.
‘Do you want to …’ I glance over the edge to the theme park down below. Ugh, I don’t want to go on any rides, but maybe there’s something else. ‘I don’t know, play like Ring Toss or something?’
‘I suck at those games.’
‘Great, let’s do that then.’
He chuckles, and it’s a lovely, soft rumble. ‘You want to see me fail?’
‘I think it might be fun to watch you struggle, actually. Yes.’ I smile slightly, so he knows I’m joking. Sort of. It does seem like everything comes easy for him. It might be nice to see what happens when it doesn’t.
‘Now, when I say I suck, I actually mean I’m way better than the average person. Just not as good as my brothers.’
‘Of course you are.’ I roll my eyes, returning to find him studying me. ‘Better save some of that humbleness for your lovely dates.’
‘Want to give me any more hints about them?’ He kicks his leg up on the railing on my other side. He’s always leaning on something. It can’t be good for his posture.
‘No. It’s a surprise.’
‘But if I’m supposed to find true love, I might want a little foresight.’
I scoff, and his eyes light up.
‘Are you surprised I know such a big word?’ he jokes.
I laugh despite myself. ‘I mean, yes, but it’s the true love line I can’t take seriously. No offense. I know you work at a fairytale park.’
His blue eyes are bright in the afternoon light, and I stare longer than I should before I snap out of it.
‘Shocking as it may seem, you and I have something in common. I also think true love is a ploy.’
‘Don’t let my mom hear you say that.’ But I relax at the idea that at least on this we can agree.
‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’
‘Juliet?’ Mom’s voice carries up the stairs.
‘Who’s Juliet?’ Garrick says, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
‘I don’t know.’ I try to play it cool. I’ve gotten lucky she hasn’t called me that in front of him until now.
‘Juliet Ripley!’ I know that tone. If I don’t get down there asap, it’ll be trouble.
‘Wait –’ Garrick’s fingers skim my wrist as I try to slip past him – ‘your name’s Juliet?’
I sigh, hot breath creating a puff of mist in front of me. ‘Yes.’
His eyes have a mischievous glisten, and I know this will come back to bite me. ‘You know, people often say I’m a Romeo. Maybe I’ve just been waiting for my Juliet.’
This is precisely why I don’t go by Juliet. I don’t need cheesy pick-up lines or references to damsels in distress. ‘Hilarious … I’ve never heard that one before.’
I tell him to return to his room and stay there until it’s time to meet the girls. I’m not sure if he’ll listen to me, but I’m also not sure it’s my problem.