Page 70 of Princess

“What?”

“If you don’t want to up and ask him, then scare him. Do somethin’ that makes him think he could lose you. That’ll get him goin’.”

It’s not the advice I expected, but it intrigues me anyway.

Scare him.

I wonder how I might accomplish that.

* * *

I spend the day brainstorming something I could do to give Grant a nudge in the right direction, but I don’t have any inspiration. Any possibilities I can think of—like asking back the key to my apartment so he can’t come and sleep with me at night or pretending I’m interested in someone else—feels too fake and melodramatic. It feels too much like a lie.

I don’t want to play a game with him. I just want to be secure in how he feels about me.

After dinner, I have no better ideas, and I wander around the camp aimlessly, wanting to stretch my legs and get some fresh air before I go back down into the bunker.

Maybe the obvious advice is actually the best here. Maybe I should just suck it up and talk to him.

If he ever gets home.

“Olivia!” It’s a male voice but not Grant’s. It’s Ben, the one guy my age from the bunker. He’s always been friendly to me. More so recently. Evidently he broke up with Tara when they were locked down a few weeks ago, so he’s probably a little lonely.

I pause to wait for him to catch up to me. “Hey. How’s it going?”

“Not bad. Are you busy?”

“No. Just taking a little walk. Not ready to go inside yet.”

“Me either.” He smiles at me. “Maybe we can take a walk together.”

I agree since I’m happy for the company. We stroll around the camp, talking casually about anything that crosses our minds.

We’re close to the gate when I see it opening. The sun is starting to go down, so I’m pretty sure who the new arrival will be, and my heart speeds up in anticipation.

It is. Grant. He rides in and parks the ATV.

For some reason, it annoys me anew. That he’s been gone all day. Again. And refuses to tell me what he’s doing.

What the hell kind of work would take him away from the camp and bunker for so long?

Because I’m annoyed, I turn my back, focusing on Ben and not looking over to where I know Grant is getting off his vehicle and grabbing the pack he brought with him.

I don’t need to run over there and greet him like I’ve been waiting with bated breath all day for his return. He can get his ass over here if he wants to talk to me.

“Your boyfriend’s back,” Ben says, glancing over my shoulder.

“I know.” I don’t turn around.

“You guys have a fight?”

“Not really.”

“You look kind of pissed. Hopefully that’s not at me.”

“It’s not at you. It’s him. I just…” I have absolutely no idea how to explain it. Then I suddenly remember Travis’s advice, and I’m finally hit with that spark of inspiration I’ve been needing. “Hey, can you do me a favor?”

“Of course,” Ben replies. “What do you need me to do?”

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