Page 75 of Trapped With You

And when I heard her scream on my way down the stairs of Balthazar Building, my heart stopped with fear. I thought someone was hurting her. I thought I heard another voice.

Yet when I arrived in the foyer, she was the only one standing. Composed and aloof, she didn’t say anything. My guess was an Initiator pranked her.

She’d trudged through the woods with a slower stride. Herbooted heels kept sinking into the wet forest ground, holding back her pace. For a second, I thought she was limping.

The need to princess-carry Ella beat at my chest like a gong. I resisted the urge to grab her, lest risking her thwacking me across the head with the shovel.

Speaking of Ella, she now silently leaned against a tree, absentmindedly gazing into the distance. My jacket sheltered her while she held up both of our torches, giving me enough light to complete the enervating task of shovelling aside wet soil.

Ella’s stillness unsettled me. I wanted to know what was going through her mind. Plus, I needed a distraction. Otherwise, I’d never get to the bottom of this fake grave. My muscles were starting to ache from tonight’s exertion.

“Why’d you cut your hair?”

Her attention snapped my way. I liked having her eyes on me. Craved it, really. “Why, you don’t like it?” she asked insolently.

Ah, finally. Some more emotions.

I chuckled, but it was strained as I heaved another pile of dirt. “You look good, pretty girl. It suits you.”

She could wear a garbage bag and still look gorgeous.

“Thanks.” Perhaps it was my imagination, but I believed the compliment thawed her a bit.

Our dares were long and with every second trickling by in the fictitious hourglass, I was uncertain that Ella would get her crown. We started this night with her determined to win this competition and me determined to winherback.

Both things seemed so far out of reach now.

There was so much I wanted to say, so much she needed to hear.

Yet the only thing that escaped my lips in this instance was, “I got a Doberman.”

Ella perked up. “What?”

“His name is Knight. You’d love him. I found him at the shelter two weeks ago. He’s a puppy.”

Actually, Ella was his mommy…though she didn’t know it. I showed Knight a picture of her and it was currently in his playpen. I caught him snuggling with it a few times.

In the beginning stages of our relationship, we made a bucket list. Adopting a dog together was one of Ella’s wishes. We never got the chance. Though two weeks ago when I went to the animal shelter with Olivia…I saw Knight. At first glance, I knew he was coming home with us.

When Ella stayed silent, I added, “I’ll show you a picture of him at the end of the competition once we get our phones back. He’s adorable.”

“You named him Knight.” Her tone was almost accusing.

“Yeah.” Avoiding her gaze, I heaved another shovelful of dirt and noticed a small treasure chest nestled in the ground. With my gloved hands, I yanked it out. “Found our next dare.”

“Whydid you name him Knight, Cade?”

The rain came down harder than before, but my voice was still unwavering and audible as it carried over to her. “It’s the name you picked. It was on our list.”

I saw the shift inside of her just as a flash of lightning struck above us.

Once more, I threw our past in her face and unbalanced the little composure she managed to uphold.

Ella instantly went from the vengeful, icy princess perusing the world from her balcony to the fiery Ella who went toe-to-toe with me. I hated the one who kept everyone, including me, at arm’s length, so we could never see the wreckage brimming inside of her.

Let me see all your hurt.

Let me help heal your broken parts, sweetheart.