Page 13 of Burning Escape

“What creeps? You mean me?” he asked.

“No! I was—it doesn’t matter. But no. I mean, sure, you’re incredibly annoying, but I would never call you a creep.”

“At least, not to my face?” Even through the ash and grime covering his face, the handsome smile he gave as they hobbled along loosened some of the tension in her neck.

That was better. He was still pale, obviously in pain the way he held his one arm tight across his chest, but a teasing Orion she could handle.

Because the moment he’d tumbled down that slope, she’d realized maybe she’d made a mistake walking away from himthatnight, the one when they’d danced under the stars. Maybe she’d made the wrong choice walking away, not seeing if their time together could’ve been the start of something.

It was too late now to find out. But she could dial down the rivalry a bit. They were teammates. Probably time to start acting like it.

“So really. Who’s bothering you back home?” he asked.

She glanced over again. He stopped, held back a low branch so she could walk ahead of him.

If nothing else, talking would help assess if he had a concussion or brain injury.

“I’m not sure. Probably just my dumb ex. But someone is leaving notes. Smashed my windshield. That sort of thing.”

“They smashed your windshield?”

“Yeah. That’s why I was late that first day of training. I had to file a police report and was trying to line up someone to fix it, and let’s just say it was an awful way to start the day. I was hoping to make a much better first impression.”

“But that was the morning after we met.”

“Yeah, it was while we were at the park that night. When I reached my car after we…went our separate ways, I had a note and a busted windshield waiting for me.”

Orion stood straight, clenched a fist, almost like he would go to battle for her. “Why didn’t you come after me? I would’ve?—”

“There was nothing you could do.” And she really shouldn’t be so touched that he was so upset by this, like he really cared about her. Probably he couldn’t help the desire for justice, and it had nothing to do with her.

“What about that guy on the dance floor? He wasn’t happy when you turned him down. It could’ve been him.”

“Maybe, but I don’t know him. How would he know which car was mine? My guess is still my ex. Though I haven’t seen him around town. Still, I feel like someone is watching me all the time. But it’s probably just paranoia.”

“Anything else happen since then?”

“No. But we’ve been pretty swamped with training and fires. Not like we’ve had much downtime.”

“Did the police say anything?”

“No leads last I checked.”

He stopped then. Leaned on a tree, his face ashen.

“Ry? You all ri?—”

He spun and emptied his lunch onto the ground.

That wasn’t good. Nausea and vomiting were signs of a possible concussion.

Now that they’d stopped, the stillness of the forest surrounded them. Birds and chipmunks chattered in the canopy above. The ATV engines were still audible in the distance.

“They’re still looking for us,” she said.

He glanced up at her and nodded.

And who knew where the rest of their team was?

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