Page 44 of Tricky Magic
“What about your mother?” he asked, and Ellea cringed.
“I would rather skip that conversation,” she said with a small smile. “Or my father.”
“We all have family regrets we carry around with us,” he said. “It’s how we overcome them that matters.”
“I don’t have regrets where my parents are concerned,” she said a bit harshly. “Only that my grandmother didn’t step in sooner.”
He studied her face after that comment. “Okay,” he said, changing the subject. “If you could grow anything, what would it be?”
“Cheese, chocolate, and coffee, of course,” she said with a small smile. “Pasta, too.”
“Maybe we should work on one of those when you accomplish the apple,” he said, laughing.
She was thankful for the lighter subject. The thought of her parents crept in at every corner of this town. She had never been here with them, and she was thankful they didn’t muddy these memories, but that didn’t stop them from trying.
* * *
Ellea wasslow on her run the next morning. She hadn’t slept well and cursed her parents for it. The mere mention of them had her dreams filled with some of her worst memories. She was actually hoping to run into Ros for the distraction.Nope.She shook her head to rid herself of the ridiculousness of that. Hoping for Ros…bleh.
After twenty minutes of running and no sign of the large asshole, she began to worry. Even though she had no reason to worry yet, it was there in her gut. Maybe she could sneak by his cabin and see if he was home. Not talk to him, only to see. Her mind made up, she took one of the forest paths that led to his side of the lake.
Ellea ran by his house twice before she got the nerve to head down his driveway. She jogged until she came up to his old green truck. There was no sign inside the cabin to show if anyone was awake. She stood about a hundred feet from his front door, trying to find any reason to move in closer. Nothing came to her mind other than concern and curiosity, two things she shouldn’t have where Ros was involved. She turned, deciding to leave and ask Billy later if Garm had mentioned anything. Ellea stopped as movement at the front door caught her eye. She almost ran until she saw the large black eye that looked through the glass.
The shit-eating grin on the face looking out at her stopped any concern she might have had...Yep, definitely leaving.She was about to turn away and give him her back when he swung the door open, only wearing gray sweatpants and looking like he’d been thrown into a meat grinder.
“What the fuck happened to you?” she shouted louder than intended. A few birds scattered, and she covered her mouth.
“I knew you would miss me,” Ros said, and his smile somehow grew. She didn’t know how he was smiling. He limped further onto his front porch, and the morning light made it so much worse.
Ros’ right eye was bruised and swollen. His shoulder looked like it’d been used as a chew toy, and bite marks peppered both arms. His ribs were also bruised, and he had a gash across his stomach that continued past his waistband.
“Miss you?” she said, trying to hide her horror. “But seriously, what the fuck happened?”
“Just a little argument,” he said, waving his hand. “Nothing that won’t be healed in a few days.”
“Little argument?” She gaped at him. “You look like a dragon took you for a joy ride.”
“Don’t be dramatic, princess,” he said, smiling. “It warms my heart knowing how much you care.”
“Get your ass back in the house before you scare away the forest creatures,” came a male voice from inside the cabin. Ellea straightened. She had never seen Ros with anyone but Garm.
“Are you going to just stand there?” Ros asked. “Come inside. I’ll take my pants off, and you can help clean up some of my wounds.” She scowled at his wiggling eyebrows.
Ellea waited for something to stop her, but there was nothing, and her curiosity had her heading toward his cabin. She didn’t know what to expect when she walked through the front door, but it wasn’t what greeted her.
Every surface of the rich wood interior was covered. Black shelves lined most of the walls, and they were filled with books, statues, artifacts, and glass enclosures. If there wasn’t a shelf, artwork hung in its place. For the amount of stuff, the cabin was extremely clean. It felt like a museum hid its overstock pieces in this place.
The sound of male voices pulled her away from a jar of something’s foot or finger. She shivered and followed the voices to a sitting room. A large green couch sat on top of a black wool rug. Sitting on that couch was an extremely handsome man. He stood and was just as tall as Ros. His black hair was neatly shaved on the sides and perfectly tousled on top. Almond eyes crinkled as he smiled at her. One of them was also bruised and swollen. But unlike Ros, he was fully clothed.
“Hi,” he said, reaching out a tanned hand. “I’m Sam.”
“I’m Ellea,” she said, shaking his hand and trying not to stare.
“I know,” Sam said with a grin “I’ve heard loads about you.”
“Seriously?” Ros groaned. “He says three words to you, and he gets to know your name right away?”
“Yeah,” she answered. “He’s a million times better looking, and he didn’t scowl at me when he first saw me.”
