I’m not here to be friends, but to call a truce of sorts.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out stiffly. “About my outburst this morning, I mean. I shouldn’t have said anything about you and Santi.”
Blair nods once. “It’s fine. I’d be surprised, too, if the roles were reversed. I expected Santi to tell you that something happened between us. I just didn’t expect… well a scene.”
Something happened between us… Her words repeat in my head twice before fading away.
My stomach knots. All the nameless emotions from earlier threaten to return but they’re not the only ones to swell up. Curiosity grows and, regrettably, arousal. What was it like between the two of them? I shove the question away before I can dwell on it for even a second. That’s not why I’m here.
“Santi likes attention. Always expect a scene with him,” I grumble. “ButIdon’t like scenes and yet I made one, so like I said, I’m sorry.”
“Forgiven,” she says simply, some of the tension finally leaking out of her stance.
This is it, I need to just blurt out my plan and get this over with. But a flash of Santi’s beaming face stalls the words in my throat. He was sohappythis morning. I’ve never seen him glow like that as he stared down at Blair, with his hands gently cupping her face.
I can’t give Santi what he’s looking for, but maybe Blair could? I hate that it's even a possibility—she’s dangerous to him. What’s worse is that I hate that I can’t be that person for him. I like seeing him happy.
I don’t realize that I’m standing here staring, lost in thought, until Blair takes a step back as she wipes her dirty hands on her pants. The movement brings me back into the moment.
“Was there something else you wanted?” she asks, curiously. “Or was that it?”
I swallow, determined to see this through. “There’s something else.”
Blair nods as if expecting there to be more.
“Look, I think it’s safe to say you’re pretty smart,” I start. “You have to be to have made it here in one piece with people after you. You’re also a hard worker and you make everyone around here smile which doesn’t happen as often as you think it does. Life gets monotonous at Gnarly Pines so you being here is like a breath of fresh air. It’s… not been terrible, I guess.”
Blair’s head jerks back as I pause. An uncertain half-smile tugs at her pretty, full lips—the same ones that kissed Santi—and she tilts her head to the side.
“Okay, this is weird, Rhett,” she admits with a dithering chuckle. “Can we skip the flattery and get straight to your point?”
I clear my throat and force out, “You have to go, Blair.”
Her face falls but not in disappointment. There’s understanding there. I thought I had seen a flash of it in the kitchen, and I’ve been hoping that I had read it correctly because my whole plan banks on her and that understanding.
“Unless you know who’s after you?” I ask her. “Who have you told about your real identity? Could they be behind this? If we can stop them before they send anyone else?—”
“I’ve never uttered my name out loud before I arrived at Gnarly Pines,” Blair says, cutting me off quietly. “Never.”
I shrug. “Well, I doubt your dad or Ledger told someone after all these years of keeping that secret safe. Either way, people know who you are now and that’s put a target on you.” I step closer, imploring her to hear me. “But,as I’m sure you’re aware, not everyone’s aim is accurate. People will come for you but the four of us could be casualties.”
Blair stares at me, her expression becoming hard and unreadable. What’s she thinking?
“I know you and I haven’t really been on the same page but that doesn’t mean I hate you. I don’t want to see you dead, Blair. No more than I want to see the others turned into corpses,” I press on after a moment of silence. “And while you’re here, I’ve got your back. That being said, I just want everyone to be safe. I like my life here, Blair. I like the people in it. With you around, all of this could go up in smoke. I’ve already lost so much in my life,pleasedon’t let your presence here be the cause of more loss.”
Blair’s arms come up and wrap around her middle as she looks away from me. The gesture makes her look small and unsuspecting.
“What am I supposed to do, Rhett?” she asks without looking at me.
“Let me help you get out of here. I know somewhere you could be safe,” I offer quickly. “I’ll even take you there myself. I’ll make sure you’re settled and once you are, I can assure the others you’re good.”
She frowns. “They don’t know you’re here talking to me about this, do they?”
“No.” I shake my head. “And they would probably object, which is why I came straight to you. You’ve seen the lengths these hitmen will go to get their hands on you, Blair. You know what they’re capable of. And while Ledger, Wes, and Santi all want to help, they can’t. Not really. What happens when Ledger’s friend doesn’t warn him in time about the next threat that shows up? None of us would see trouble coming until it was already too late. We can’t help you if the threat is invisible. So, the best bet is to get you somewhere far from here. Like I said, I’ll come with you and make sure you’re set up to thrive. I won’t leave until Iknowyou’re good.”
Blair’s face twists with devastation and I know she’s actually hearing me. Some of the worry leaks from my body and I relax.
“You’re right,” she admits, looking away from me. “I should go before?—”
