Page 68 of Saints & Sinners

She blew one of her curls out of her face and sank her back into the booth. “I’d rather not have had a full stomach before we went in search of Riftkeeper’s.”

‘Those few skittles you had weren’t enough. Besides, nothing wrong with a good old fry-up.”

She rolled her eyes just as the waitress approached us with two plates and coke cans.

Grace eyed her food with undeterred hunger, and before I could say a word, she was already digging in, ravaging her sausages and beans.

I chuckled. “Slow down there, Bambi. Don’t want you getting sick in my car afterwards.”

She glared at me and took a sip of coke. “That car isn’t even a car. It’s a death machine that rattles. I don’t understand how you haven’t been caught when you don’t even have a license.”

I bit into my toast. “It also got us here in one piece, so you’re welcome.”

“Shocker.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “I get it. You’re jealous I can drive. It’s okay, Grace. You can admit it. This is a safe space.”

“Why would I be jealous? I’d like to see you drive arealcar. One that doesn’t sound like it’s going to fall apart every time you take a turn.”

That’s the plan... someday. I doubt it would happen, though. “Who knows, maybe I’ll own a 67 Mustang and use it to drive away from here.”

Her brows drew together at that. “You want to leave? But—”

I’d said too much. “You should hurry up and eat the rest of your food before it gets cold.” My walls were back in place, and she could clearly see that.

It disappointed her.

She shook her head and sighed. A few minutes of silence passed by as we ate our fry-ups before, she decided to speak up again. “So, what’s the plan then? Head to the abandoned lots here and scout each one for strange activity?”

If only it were that easy. “If it’s a place run by Riftkeeper’s, they won’t just let anyone in.”

“What if we snuck in?”

“Won’t work.”

She crossed her arms and huffed. This was another reason why I didn’t want her to come with me. My idea to get into any place where Riftkeeper’s hang out wasn’t strictly orthodox. “Then what do we do?”

“I’ll tell you once you finish your food.”

Begrudgingly, she picked apart at her bacon before she continued eating until there was nothing left on that plate. When we left the cafe, the rain picked up as we walked through a nearby park that was empty except for the quiet shuffle of our footsteps.

I still hadn’t answered her question, and I felt it was because she no longer wanted to know.

She shivered slightly.

I frowned and shrugged off my jacket before handing it to her.

She pouted. “I don’t need this.”

“Cool. Then consider it a fashion statement.”

Rolling her eyes, she tossed me my jacket back. “I can handle being cold. In fact, I can handle anything, including you.”

I stopped and looked around the empty park. Holding my hand up, I said, “Alright, then. Show me what you’ve got.”

She looked at me, mouth agape. “You’re serious?”

“Come on, you said you can handle anything.”

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