Page 33 of Locked
But Sorrel, he looked at me like I was a treasure.
"I wish I could see you in person," he whispered.
It was the one request I couldn't say yes to. It was the one thing I wouldn't do for him.
"Me too," I said quietly. "I have for a while."
"Tell me where you are…" he said, picking up his phone and bringing it closer. "Tell me, Zelle. I could be there in minutes."
I faltered, unsure of what to say, because honestly, I had no idea where I was.
"I don't know…" I said softly, tears coming to my eyes. "I have no idea where I am."
"What?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. He looked crushed. Forlorn. "You don't know?"
"Mother never told me and I don't get mail or anything, so I don't have an address… I'm so sorry…" My voice cracked at the end, and I had to stop talking. To swallow down the lump in my throat because I wanted nothing more than to provide him with something. To give him what he wanted. WhatIwanted. To take something for myself. But I couldn't even do that.
"Zelle… Zelle… baby… don't cry…" his voice dropped low, soothing me as I tried to pull it together. "We'll figure it out, okay? I know this city like the back of my hand. I'll definitely be able to figure out where you are. We don't have to do it today, though."
The thunder rolled in the background and I let out a watery laugh. "Kinda not the weather for navigation, huh?"
"No, and I kinda just want to sit here and talk to you…" he said softly, setting his phone back down on the desk. "I got ahead of myself. Ahead of us… I just want to sit here and listen to you talk, because your voice is like music…"
"I want to listen toyoutalk because your voice is like… melted butter…" I confessed, pulling my knees up in front of me and wrapping my arms around them. "Melted butter on… leather."
He laughed. "If you think that about me, just wait till you hear Kinden. Dude's voice makesmesit up straight…"
I sighed happily. "Tell me everything about you…"
"You already know it all," he said, chuckling. "Goofball."
"I read everything. Now I want to hear it…"
Sorrel grinned widely. "Only if you promise to talk too…"
I rolled my eyes and acquiesced.
It was a ruse, I wasn't in the least bit annoyed or perturbed by him, but he delighted so much in everything I did, I couldn't help but give him a little more to work with.
"Gods, you are beautiful," he whispered.
"So are you," I countered.
"Zelle. First things first. You are always complaining about your hair… and I gotta see it. Rapunzel. You have to let down your hair."
I grinned and reached for the clips that were holding most of it in a knot on the back of my head. I loosened them and dropped them one by one in a pile in my lap.
I stood, shaking out my hair and letting the waves cascade down my shoulders.
"Like that?" I asked, laughing at his expression.
"Damn…" he exclaimed. "You weren't joking."
I shook my head. "Nope."
His cheeks pinked up a little as he gazed at me. "You look like a dream…"
"Sorrel…"
"I'm serious. I'm thinking I should pinch myself to make sure I'm awake. 'Cept I'm pretty sure I couldn't have dreamed you up. My imagination isn'tthisgood."
I gathered all my hair to one side and pushed it over my shoulder. "Okay, but if I have to show you my hair, you have to stand up so I can see all of you."
He grinned and hopped up. "Your wish is my command."
