Chapter 21 Garrick
Garrick
‘Hey.’ I bump into Ripley with my shoulder when we run into each other in the hallway after uploading the baking video to Beeloved’s channel.
I hope to ride that wave of excitement from last night’s episode and get people watching the bonus video and bringing in more business for FTG.
‘Any hints on the upcoming dates?’ They thought it was better to keep me in the dark about most of what’s next.
She glances at her tablet, quickly pressing it against her chest to hide what she was looking at. ‘I bet you were the worst little kid at Christmas. Always trying to sneak a peek at your presents.’
I grab my chest as if I’m in pain. ‘You wound me. I didn’t try anything – I succeeded.’
‘My mistake.’ Her face remains impassive, and it scrapes at my pride.
I was my usual self yesterday, but after Desiree got there and I was flirting with her – which I really do without thinking – things got weird.
Ripley carried on with business as she always does, but I sensed her closing down.
The walls I typically skate past rose around her.
Then I did something I never do: I overthought every move I made.
The looks I gave Desiree, or how she laughed in response.
Suddenly, flirting as my natural default felt wrong.
But why, though? Ripley shouldn’t even be the receiver of my flirtations – yet how she might be perceiving my actions toward someone else was a blaring foghorn in my brain telling me to back down.
‘Did you post the video?’ she asks, oblivious to this out-of-character inner turmoil I’m coming down with.
I shake my head to descramble my brain to its preferred setting. ‘Just went up. I posted about it on TikTok and Insta too. Thanks again.’
‘You’re welcome. I hope it works.’ She has this nervous habit of biting her nails and I enjoy the struggle when she tries to contain it. It makes these little lines form between her brows. It’s cute – I’d tell her as much, but I doubt I’d get the reaction I’m hoping for.
We’re due on set in ten minutes, but I wish it were longer. It was fun hanging out with Ripley yesterday – working as a team.
As we reach the stairs leading to the break room, I notice someone has hung mistletoe.
I’d be the first suspect, but for once I had no part in this entrapment.
The inconspicuous decor is the perfect wingman, but should I take the bait?
This is Ripley I’m standing with, my no-fly friend-zone reprieve from the love machine that is Beeloved.
Yet I am Garrick Walton, so I say, ‘Look at that, we seem to have stumbled under the mistletoe.’
Ripley glances up, unimpressed. ‘Don’t tell me you subscribe to the whims of weeds?’
It’s got glitter on the fake leaves, sparkling in the fluorescent lights. ‘I think it’s pretty.’
‘Weeds can be pretty. That’s not the point.’ She has her hair down, curls framing her face, softening the tough exterior she always puts on for me. I’d tell her she reminds me of my favorite carousel horse, but I’m not sure she’d see it as the compliment I mean it as.
I lean against the wall, crossing my arms. ‘I subscribe to anything that leads to kissing.’
She rolls her eyes, but, I swear, the teeny, tiniest smile might be hiding there. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking.
‘So, what do you say?’ I whisper. ‘I’m a big tradition guy. But I also wait for consent.’
She studies the mistletoe, hesitating before moving closer. She’s a few inches away now, and I can smell a hint of peach and coffee. My breath hitches, and I’m suddenly clammy. I wasn’t expecting that to work.
Dang, I’m good.
But before she is close enough to kiss, she reaches up and yanks the mistletoe down, flinging it to the opposite end of the hall as she jogs down the stairs.
The idea for the scavenger hunt around the park was one I’d thrown out there early on in the planning stages.
I was pleasantly surprised when they chose it.
We used to do a version of this every year between park openings, but nothing’s been the same in the last couple of years, so bringing it back has me jazzed.
And you know I’m excited because I’m using words like jazzed.
The production team has set up specific tasks throughout the park, giving each girl a list of clues. Technically, I’m supposed to just go along with the girls during the date and help each of them find something. But that sounded too stiff for me.
Also, I wanted to find the treasures too.
‘C’mon, Nathan.’ I’ve dragged him to the sidelines. ‘I haven’t done a scavenger hunt in ages. I want to see if my skills are still there.’
Nathan gives Ms Ripley, who’s talking to a camera guy, a quick glance. ‘Are you trying to get me fired?’
‘Dude, you know Ripley would never let that happen.’
He nods, then his eyes light up. ‘Speaking of our mutual friend …’
The hairs on my arms stick up at his tone – it’s like when I know I’m about to get in trouble from Dad or Ivor.
‘What’s up with you and Ripley?’
I frown. ‘I’m afraid I don’t know of what you speak.’
‘Melika said you two were rather cozy at your recording yesterday before I arrived.’
‘Sure, we were watching a Christmas movie. Cozy is a prerequisite.’
He’s in his elf costume again, and with his mischievous smirk I feel like I’m getting grilled by Santa’s little helper. ‘Oh, Garrick, you truly are the gift that keeps on giving.’
I flash a smile. ‘Too kind. So, the scavenger list?’
‘Places, everyone!’ the director, Hassan, calls.
‘And the mistletoe this morning?’ Nathan continues, undeterred.
‘How did you see that?’ Something tightens in my gut.
He motions to his outfit. ‘You know the whole he sees you when you’re sleeping thing?’
I lick my lips. ‘Ripley and I just like to mess with each other. That’s all.’
‘Fine.’ Nathan reaches into the satchel at his waist and pulls out a list. ‘Here. But just don’t get Ripley in trouble, OK? She’s not like us. She doesn’t enjoy the thrill.’
I want to tell him I don’t like getting in trouble – but that would be a lie. And I might be a troublemaker – but a liar I am not.
Even if what I told him about me and Ripley feels like the barest hint of a fib.
This is a date, so I’m supposed to get to know the girls, but my competitive nature is getting in the way. Ms Ripley was going on about how this will help with learning how to problem-solve in a relationship. I tuned out a few words into her explanation.
I’m hiding behind a tree in Pixie Forest – which is much harder to do in the winter when there are no leaves. Good thing I know all the secret passages.
‘What are you doing?’ Ripley rests her hands on her hips, coming out of nowhere like a ninja.
‘Shhh.’ I yank her into my narrow hiding space.
My breath hitches when I turn and see her bright-blue eyes staring at me.
This close to her, I can see the freckles on her nose in perfect detail.
I wonder if, in the summertime, they cover her entire cheeks.
But they’re hiding in the winter, just like her genuine smile.
Maybe one day I’ll get to see them both.
She hasn’t pulled away yet. ‘Garrick, aren’t you supposed to be with the girls?’
I am. But I am very competitive. And while I get this is a date too, I still want to win. Yes, it’s a personality flaw. I was bound to have one. ‘Juliet, I plan on winning. And if you screw this up for me … well, I’ll be really mad.’
‘I think that’s something I can live with.’ She starts to walk away, and I twirl her back toward me.
‘What’s it gonna take for you to help me win this?’
She drums two fingers on her lips. And I find myself wondering if I should kiss her. It would be easy to lean in and wait for her to say yes. Which I know is very unlikely. I shake my head to make these stubborn thoughts fly away.
‘You can’t call me Juliet any more.’
I frown. ‘What? That’s our thing.’
She rolls her eyes. Which I’m finding is my new favorite part of her. ‘That is not our thing. It’s not a thing at all.’
I glance around to make sure no one is nearby. I managed to lose the camera guy a few minutes into the hunt. ‘It is a thing. It’s your name.’
‘Only legally.’
‘Juliet Ripley,’ I beg. ‘Please?’
‘Ugh. Fine. If you stop making that face.’
I loosen up my puppy-dog face and give her a goofy smile. ‘Perfect.’ A warmth spreads across my chest, my body relaxing with her near me, but also my heart is ticking faster the longer she looks at me.
This is … this is what? It feels like what Tristian described when he was falling for Imogen. That desire to be with this person, no matter the time or place – especially when it’s really inconvenient, like the set of the dating show I’m starring in.
Oh, crap. Do I like Ripley? Like, like her.
Sure, I enjoy making her roll her eyes and working with her to make our little schemes happen – and how my skin tingles when we brush against each other.
Or how she’s the only person I feel comfortable enough around to show the genuine parts of me.
But even still, I have kept a barrier between me and the rest of the world.
I don’t know if I’m ready to let someone pass that shield.
But luckily, I’m in the middle of a highly competitive game at the moment, and I don’t need to focus on things like feelings.
‘Where are you going?’ I call as she starts walking away. ‘We had a deal!’
‘Stay there. I need to get something.’
Five minutes pass, and I’m wondering if she ditched me when she strides back with Arianna, Maya and two camera crew. My heart sinks, my face following suit before I arrange it into a leading man-worthy position.
‘Ripley, you found us some teammates.’
Glancing to the rolling cameras, Ripley’s face stays neutral. ‘You needed some assistance.’
I needed you.
She’s right, my little maneuver to get some time alone with her was never going to work. This is a recorded date for the show. One Ripley isn’t a part of.
‘You ladies don’t mind Ripley staying behind the camera to help us out, do you?’ I maintain eye contact with Maya and Arianna, even as my vision tries to slip back to Ripley.
‘Not at all,’ Maya wholeheartedly agrees. ‘She’ll be our secret weapon.’
For a brief second, I let Juliet be the only thing I see. ‘What d’ you say?’
‘OK.’ Ripley nods.
Having Ripley on the team was a stroke of genius. I knew she was brilliant, but her problem-solving skills are next level. While Maya, Arianna and myself are decent enough, Ripley is able to uncover the clues with ease. Even if she has to do it from behind the scenes and feed the answers to us.
We crack the first two with no problem.
First, we have to take a video on top of a spinning mushroom while singing a Christmas song. We started at the back of the list, hoping to avoid the rush.
I jump on the ride vehicle, stumbling a little, even with it going in super-slow mode.
‘Is this safe?’ Arianna worries her bottom lip as I help Maya up with me.
‘Probably not.’ Maya laughs as she grabs my shirt to stop herself from falling when it spins in the opposite direction. Arianna glances at Ripley, who gives her an encouraging smile.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to come up here with us?’ I ask Ripley when Arianna is safely on board.
‘No.’ She holds my phone to record me.
‘Should we make the ride faster? I feel like that’ll give us extra points.’ It’s foggy today, giving the park a soft haze.
She shakes her head. ‘I think that’ll send you three to the hospital. But I might get a viral video out of it. So, ball’s in your court.’
‘Why, Ripley, that almost sounded like a joke.’ I crack a smile before singing ‘Santa Baby’ to the camera, the girls joining in. The fairytale music from the ride plays behind me, but we manage to sing the right notes to my song most of the time.
Jumping down, Ripley hands me the phone.
‘You guys have a good lead. Maybe I should go?’ she asks as we head to the next spot.
Arianna and Maya are reading the clue to the camera.
I stay back a few paces with Ripley, covering the mic so the camera won’t pick up our conversation. ‘I feel kind of bad taking your time.’
I wrap my mittens tighter around the mic. ‘I choose who I want to spend time with. And I think I picked my partner wisely.’
‘You’ve got an answer for everything, don’t you?’ The way she studies me always makes me feel like she can see past my shell and into the depths of my soul. Sometimes it’s just a cavernous hole, but it feels a bit cozier with her.
‘Usually. But not when it comes to you.’ I grab her hand, pulling her toward the Perilous Sea.
It’s been over an hour, and we’ve nearly completed the list.
‘Here, I want to show you something.’ As the girls and cameras head toward Glacier Peaks, I pull Ripley the opposite way toward Carpathia through a secret path, unhooking my mic to give us real privacy.
‘What about the show?’ Ripley looks like she wants to bite through her glove.
‘They’ve got enough of me, they can spare a few minutes.’ We both wear a guilty look when we come upon Yvette and Ivor exiting from the Fairytalers’ castle side door.
‘What are you two doing?’ Ivor asks, eyes snagging on how close we’re standing together.
Ripley must clock it too, because she takes several side steps to separate us. ‘I was helping Garrick with …’ Ripley glances over at me.
‘Look, I’ll be honest. Ripley got lost.’ She shoots me a glare, but I keep going. ‘And then she got stuck in the Pixie train and, while hilarious, I felt it was my knightly duty to help her.’
Staring at her, I dare her to come up with something else. She bites her lip but stays quiet.
Ivor shares a look with Yvette, who raises her eyebrow.
‘Just a heads-up, G, a few people have mentioned how often you two are seen together. Which I quickly shot down as nothing more than production-related business.’ Ivor says the words slowly.
I want to make another joke, but the concern on his face sobers me right up.
‘But after this little stunt, maybe I need to reiterate that we wouldn’t want you two to do anything that might compromise the show or the park’s integrity. Right?’ The tone is softer than it might have been a few months ago, but the message is clear.
You promised you wouldn’t screw this up, Garrick, I can hear him adding, if Ripley wasn’t here.
Normally, I just ignore it when my brothers tell me to do something, but after Nathan’s little interrogation earlier I can’t deny I might have let whatever Ripley and I are doing get – slightly – out of hand.
Ripley looks like someone threw a bucket of ice water over her. ‘Of course not. We’ll be better.’
Being better was never my strong suit.