Page 8 of DFF: Delicate Freakin' Flower

He just walked straight to the passenger door and opened it like it washis truck, pulled out his phone, and muttered into it. “Is the reason you hightailed it out of here a relative of Sasha’s, by any chance?”

I bit my tongue—literally bit it—because I could feel the smartass bubbling up, and while I wasn’t opposed to going toe-to-toe with a Townsend, I also wasn’t in the mood to pass out mid-argument from dehydration.

Also, really, he didn’t even remember my name? I let out a tiny sniff. It was dramatic and only just loud enough.

Marcus barely glanced at me, still listening to the person on the other end. Then his eyes narrowed, head tilting slightly.

“Because she’s just pulled in with Drew,” he replied flatly, “her hair matching her skin.”

Okay, that was it. “Ididn’t expect my car to explode or to have to walk through the temperatures andsuns of hellto find you people,” I snapped, throwing my arms wide. “So, forgive me if I’m the one suffering right now.”

Marcus didn’t blink as Drew sighed beside him.

“Yeah,” Marcus said into the phone, tone dry enough to make toast. “I’ll keep an eye on her ‘til you get here.”

From the other side of the truck, Drew snorted. “Not like you canmiss her. Pretty sure she’d glow in the dark at this point.”

I turned my head and glared at him, my voice like gravel. “Ithurts, Drew.”

“Yeah, I bet,” he shrugged with zero remorse, hauling my overloaded bag out of the truck bed. “We’ve got aloe, so you should probably bathe in it. Hourly.”

And off he went, strolling toward the massive house like this was just another Tuesday. Which, knowing this family, it probably was.

I sighed, dragged my feet out of the truck, and turned to face Marcus. He’d ended the call and was just standing there, watching me like I might start smoking at any second.

“Webb’ll be back in a few hours. You can hang tight here with Adrienne, Santana, and the kids until he gets here. Apparently, he's got a lot of questions for you.”

I was shocked at that, and then it clicked that my cousin's husband had probably contacted his family for help when she couldn't reach me. Not wanting to play my hand, though, I asked, “Santana’s here?”

“She and Adrienne are wrangling small children, and whatever animal has escaped the barn today.”

Of course they were. I nodded and started following him toward the house, my limbs protesting every step like they’d unionized on the walk over.

“And we’ve got shit tons of aloe,” he added, glancing over his shoulder. “So definitely start lathering it on before you combust.”

I groaned. “That’s the plan.”

If this didn’t kill me, the embarrassment might. But at least I wasn’t alone anymore. I was sunburned, dehydrated, and beingshepherded toward a house full of chaos and judgment, but at least I was safe.

I hoped.

Chapter Five

Webb

As soon as Marcus’s name appeared on my phone, I pulled off to the side of the road. I’d been driving around in circles, searching for Gabby’s broken Camry when the first call had come in, and I’d been waiting for the follow-up to it. I could feel a deep, sharp instinct telling me that I was about to feel very,verystupid.

“Tell me you’veseenher,” I clipped, skipping any greeting. My voice came out rougher than I intended, but I didn’t care. I didn’t just meanlaid eyes on her. I meant really looked—checked if she was hurt, shaken, bleeding, breathing. I needed to know someone had taken the time toseeher the way I would’ve.

“Oh, I’ve seen her,” Marcus replied, deadpan.

Relief hit like a sucker punch to the chest. “Is she okay?”

“She’s walking and talking. Mainly roasting.”

“What?”

“Webb, she rolled up in Drew’s truck looking like she lost a fistfight with the sun and forgot sunscreen was a thing.”

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