Page 34 of Ricochet

Adelia hoisted herself up one rung. These were the worst shoes to wear when climbing a ladder, but he didn’t tell her it’d be a challenge for nothing. “Good thing I’m a vision of grace.”

He laughed then promised that he hadn’t laughed at her, making her grin with each awkward step toward the ceiling panel. “Kind of dark up here.”

She popped her headinto the fresh air, taking in the dark night. Her eyes hadn’t adjusted but that was almost a blessing, as the stars seemed to reach from the heavens, beckoning her forward.

A slight breeze picked up as she pulled herself onto the roof, and loose hairs lifted around her face. The quiet clatter of Colin climbing up the ladder mixed with the faraway notes of Seven’s reception until he joined her,then closed the rooftop hatch, separating them from the rest of the world.

He, arranged all the things he’d brought up as she carefully picked a path to look each direction. One main road took everyone in from town, but for the most part, they were surrounded by green trees and parks. The community center’s equipment was unlit at that time of night, and she could barely make the outlines of thetennis, volleyball, and basketball courts.

“I can’t believe we’re up here.” Just as quickly as she’d been awed by his creativity, her anxiousness reappeared. She had no trepidation about being alone with him or why he’d separated her from the reception, but it was how he made her heart skip and skin flush. He excited her in a way that sparked her curiosity.

He stood at the edge of the tablecloth.The coffee and her extras, the cups, and the flowers formed a line along the edge of the table clothes, and Adelia bit her bottom lip. The precise set up was nearly unrecognizable from Mayhem’s chaotic style, but she soaked in how a military man might find order in a simple task.

“This might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”Short of Tex saving me from my real father.She steppedclose to Colin and tucked her arms underneath his suit jacket, linking her hands behind his brawny back.

“Then that sucks.” He swayed against her, hugging her close, almost possessively. But he didn’t act like that. She could walk away; she wasn’t an object.

What was the pressure in her chest—as though she wanted to be possessed? Consumed? Things she’d avoided since she knew they existed. “Idon’t know why,” she whispered. “But everything feels…”

Motorcycles revved in the parking lot, momentarily stealing her attention until they slowly rolled away.

“Yeah,” he said, letting her off the hook.

But he had no idea what she thought because she couldn’t explain. Forget the fact that he was attractive. That was a gimme. Their attraction was palpable, but that wasn’t what was on her mind.He made her feel valued in a way that she never had before, and that was saying something. She did nothing but contribute to her community. She gave and gave and gave—to the point that she’d written her death sentence if someone found out how much she’d sacrificed.

But she’d never focused on herself. That revelation had aftershocks, and wave after wave of memories and decisions flooded her untilshe squeezed Colin tight enough that he squeezed too.

“I need coffee.” Caffeine fixed most problems in life.

“That’s why we’re here.” He eased her down as Adelia could’ve sworn he mentally willed her to hearand nothing more.

They made themselves comfortable on top of several layers of tablecloths, and now she understood why they’d needed more than one. The roof was rough. He laughed, and theyjoked, while underneath them, their friends danced and drank. When their coffee was finished, and she cuddled against him, it was as if she’d met part of herself for the first time tonight.

Yet, he was the one who had suffered today, and she was thinking about herself. Maybe he should’ve called her selfish instead of stubborn. “How’s Sophia?”

“A mess, but Javier will take care of her.”

“Hewas a protector, even when we were little kids,” Adelia said. “He’d stand up to our father. I’m not sure he ever gives himself enough credit for all that he did for me.” She leaned her head against Colin’s chest, staring at the stars. They sat on the tablecloths like they were a picnic blanket, and she’d scooted her back to lean against his stomach. “Funny how the world brings people together.”

Colin laughed in her ear. “No kidding.”

“What?” She twisted.

“First time I met you—”

“Oh.” Her cheeks blushed at the memory of Mayhem and Delta’s first meeting. A shootout. “That was work.”

“Look at you, sitting here all sweet and innocent.” He nuzzled her neck. “Smelling like an angel.”

Her stomach flipped. “I do?”

“Don’t think I’ll forget the day you tried to shoot me.”

Adelia couldn’tthink straight when he teased her neck. “I don’t recall it exactly like that.”

“Hmm.” The sound growled across her flesh. “I do.”

She couldn’t keep her eyes open, certain he was tormenting her on purpose. “That was so long ago.”

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