Chapter 36
Ripley
We’re soaking wet by the time we get back to the apartments.
And it’s way later than it should’ve been.
With the early winter nights and the still-pounding rain – but less sleet, so Garrick felt safe driving back – it’s already dark outside.
They scrapped the date, at least according to the texts Mom sent me.
Also, we’re both in major trouble. Somehow, me more, for apparently kidnapping the star. In Nathan’s words.
Luckily, with the storm, we could just make the excuse that our phones weren’t working. Plus, it’s not like we could risk our lives to drive back just for a dating app reality show. Which, I hate to break to everyone, is not working. At least, if the way Garrick was kissing me is any indication.
‘We’re so screwed,’ I tell Garrick when he parks the car.
‘Nah. I’ll make sure if anyone is screwed here, it’s me. You were just doing what you were told. I’m the renegade.’ He reaches for my hand, interlocking our fingers.
‘No one can argue that. But …’ I pull away, my hand cold in the absence. ‘We need to be careful.’
‘Did you see my driving? The picture of careful.’
‘Not what I meant. We already messed up with Desiree and Brett. We can’t let anyone else catch us.’ I bite my lip, and he reaches for my face before stopping.
‘So, you mean like me kissing away that frown of yours would be a no-go?’ He’s got one eyebrow raised, and I almost ditch my whole train of thought, but then I notice Brett exiting the break room.
‘Yes. Like that. Now go.’ I wave at the door, grabbing Mom’s keys from him. ‘Apologize like never before.’
He reaches for the handle but pauses, twisting back and kissing me quickly. The brief touch sends my heart pounding again. ‘Last one.’ He grins before jumping out of the car and running toward his apartment.
I don’t want to go to my apartment if Mom’s there – I’ll have to answer eventually, but that’s not right now.
I head to Melika’s apartment instead. When I get there, Nathan is also inside, but her roommate, Imogen, isn’t.
She’s probably with Tristian. Those two are so sweet it made my teeth hurt at first. I swear I was going to get a cavity just looking at them.
But now I sort of get it. There’s something about those Walton boys.
‘You look like a drowned cat,’ Melika says when she opens the door.
I shake off my wet jacket, hanging it on a hook near the door. ‘Thank you, you’re so kind. I’ve barely got to talk to you guys at all today, and this is the welcome I get?’
‘You’re right,’ Nathan says, grabbing my arm and leading me to the couch. ‘How was our star knight? Did you two enjoy playing hooky?’
Plopping on to the couch, I pull a pillow up on to my lap. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was running an errand for my mom and got stuck in the storm.’ My cheeks flame red, and I know I’m not fooling anyone, even if they weren’t my friends.
They both just stare at me. I sigh, leaning my head on the couch dramatically. ‘Ugh, fine. He’s … I don’t know … a good kisser?’
‘I would love more details on that,’ Melika says, sitting on the back of the couch, legs draped over me. ‘And I will get them. But I’m more worried about what will happen if somebody finds out. Kahoa and I haven’t even been out in public yet, just in case someone recognizes her.’
‘Well, someone did already when we were making out before Christmas. Desiree and Brett.’
‘What?’ they say in unison.
I rub my forehead with my pointer finger and thumb.
‘It’s fine. I think. She said she wouldn’t tell if I gave her more airtime, and I’ve already arranged that.
And Brett just wanted a good word put in with my mom.
’ I did manage to utter a strangled compliment about him earlier today.
But I’ll need to try a little harder to make it believable.
‘And now you just need to stop kissing,’ Nathan says.
‘Easier said than done.’ I toss my arms over my head. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ I glance between them and their knowing gazes.
Melika smiles. ‘It’s just nice, is all.’
‘What is?’ I frown.
‘Well, that smile you were sporting and the rosy cheeks.’ Melika bops my nose. ‘Love looks good on you.’
My frown deepens. ‘Ew, no, that’s not – we aren’t …’
‘The fact that you can’t finish that sentence tells me everything I need to know.’ Nathan draws a heart in the air.
‘I don’t love Garrick Walton.’ Which is true – I don’t – really. But I, maybe, might have a teeny, tiny, microscopic seed in my heart that could, if left to grow, become something someone – not me – might call love.
The thought should send me running for the nearest hill, but, like any fool, I think I might want to try it.
Mom reads me the riot act for letting Garrick in the car, but I don’t get in too much trouble since Garrick took all the blame on himself, and I was supposed to leave. We’re three weeks into filming, and we’ve all learned by now it’s impossible to get Garrick to do anything he doesn’t want to.
Unfortunately, to play it cool, Garrick and I keep our distance that evening and I don’t see him until the next morning when we have a foggy castle-side elimination in the snow.
Snow is great at Christmas, but now that the dust has settled on the mistletoe and Father Christmas is back at the North Pole, snow is just an immense, cold pain in the butt.
Zoya goes home and we’re down to three. An episode airs tonight, which means the crew is busy getting the final cut done with the elimination, and we have the rest of the day off.
We’re on a tight schedule this week, so Garrick was forced to do a last-minute date yesterday with Ellie just to get more footage for the episode after our outing ruined the planned event.
‘What if we got away?’ Garrick says as we sit in the treehouse fort, the late morning sun warming the frosted air.
We’re nestled together in a makeshift pile of blankets on the bottom level because I refused to go to the upper floors.
I didn’t want to die. Even with the safety hazard above us, it’s kind of cozy.
‘Go away where? We’re seventeen.’ I lay against his chest, his gloved fingers stroking my hair.
‘I know. I just meant somewhere that there aren’t a bunch of cameras.’ His warm breath clouds in front of us.
I don’t know what Garrick and I are. We haven’t had that conversation. But every time he’s near, the butterflies zoom around and I enjoy how it feels.
Who am I?
It doesn’t matter because Garrick signed a contract, and even if it wasn’t for that, we need to finish the show. It’s beneficial to both of us, as much as it hurts to watch.
‘We can’t go anywhere. Not yet,’ I add when he sighs dramatically. ‘But who knows what the new year will bring. We do go to the same school.’
‘Bold of you to assume I attend class.’
‘I mean, I don’t think I’ve seen you there.’ I grin, looking up at him.
‘If I’d seen you before, I never would have said yes to this reality show.’ He cups my cheek.
‘Even if I asked really nicely?’ I copy his signature puppy-dog face.
‘Honestly, Juliet, I’d do almost anything if you asked.’
‘OK, but serious question.’ I lean my head back to see his face better.
‘Not my favorite way to start a sentence, but I’ll allow it.’
‘What do you want to do after high school? I know you go to class.’ Mom got his school records and did background on him before we started filming to make sure he was suitable for the role. ‘So, what’s the plan?’
He gives an exaggerated shiver. ‘Even you can’t make the word plan sound good. I don’t know.’ He scratches at his pant leg. ‘What do you want to do?’
‘I want to become a lawyer. But not a criminal defense lawyer or an ambulance chaser. Someone who can actually do some good.’ Defending the little guy seems like an excellent way to spend a life.
Also, they have to be very organized, and I got that down.
If only I could learn to control my flushing cheeks, I’d be unstoppable.
He nods, dimple popping. ‘Yeah, that tracks.’
‘So,’ I elbow him in the rib softly, ‘where does future Garrick reside?’
He waves to FTG peeking out from behind the trees. ‘Right here. This is my home, has been for my whole life. I don’t plan on going anywhere else.’ His voice hitches at the end and my lips dip into a frown.
Before, I wouldn’t have pushed him to tell me more, but now that we’re kissing on a regular basis, I want to know more. Because my heart yearns to learn everything I can about him.
‘Why the sad note?’ A sharp pain cuts through my abdomen, and I press my hand into my stomach to make it stop. I only had a handful of cereal for breakfast, and my body is revolting, but I don’t want to get up just yet.
He licks his lips, chest rising and falling behind me.
‘FTG isn’t as stable as it used to be. If we don’t keep building up funds, I’m not sure how long it can keep going.
I’ve never wanted to be anything other than the knight in shining armor.
But when I started working in the kitchen, I realized that could also be cool to do – like my mom.
’ He clears his throat, and I squeeze his hand as he powers through.
‘So, that’s my plan. Keep Fairytale Gardens running until I’m an old man and I become a ghost wandering the park. ’
‘Sounds like you got a plan to me.’
‘Huh, yeah, I guess I do. You know, FTG could probably use a lawyer on staff. You could stick around and maybe I’d finally get you on a roller coaster.’
I bark out a laugh, scaring some birds in a nearby tree. ‘Sorry, Walton, never going to happen.’
‘Never’s a long time, Juliet. But don’t worry, I got all the time in the world for you.’ He leans down and kisses my nose before moving to my lips, making me forget all my problems.