Page 105 of Not A Whisper

Trip nods once.

Reluctantly, I take it. I don’t open it right away. I flip it over a few times, looking for some hint as to what’s inside. When there’s nothing giving away the contents, I pinch the metal fasteners together and open it. I pull out the folded documents, shoot Trip a wary look, then open them. At the top of the first page it saysAdult Name Change Petition.

I’m pretty sure my heart grinds to a halt as I see the name scribbled in the appropriate fields. I scan the first page twice before flipping over to the next one. This page is confirmationthat a name has indeed been changed. Between the second and third page is a normal envelope. I pull it from the small pile of papers and tear into it, not believing what I’m seeing.

I pull out the new social security card and driver’s license. The name on both reads: Trip Baniker-Wilson.

There are no words for what I’m feeling, which is good because the shock has rendered me speechless.

“You were under my skin long before the new ink,” Trip admits, his voice gruff. He attempts to clear his voice before adding, “I remembered what I told you back at the hotel after everything happened last semester…” His golden cheeks turn pink as his voice deepens and grows even more rough and stinted. “I do, you know. Love you.”

The last two words are spoken in such a rough, growling voice that it’s more sound than actual words. But I hear them all the same.

I thought I was too exhausted to feel anything other than worn out. Turns out, a declaration of love from the most emotionally complex young man that I’ve ever met was all I needed to feel rejuvenated.

Jubilance bubbles up swiftly in my chest as I gasp, which triggers the irritation in my chest and throat.

I choke and then cough, wince, and then fall into a massive coughing fit that brings tears to my eyes. Or maybe it’s Trip’s gesture and words. Either way, they stream down my cheeks as I hack away.

“Alright, alright, let’s get you home before you keel over.” He throws his arm over my shoulders and tries to guide me over to his van. I dig my heels into the ground and force the coughing to subside.

“Wait,” I wheeze.

Trip looks down at me with exasperation.

I turn into his body, roll up onto the balls of my feet andplant a kiss on his lips. Trip’s hands land on my hips and yank me forward. My gasp gives him access to my mouth. Trip’s tongue dives in to explore and claim. My moan is eaten up by the man who inspired it.

By the time he breaks our kiss, I’m lightheaded.

“Come on, dollface. Let’s get you home.” He pulls me toward the Baniker company van.

As I tuck everything back into the manilla envelope, I have to know something.

“Do Grant and Jason know you did this?”

“Nope.”

My brows pop upward. “Not evenJason? He’s going to be so jealous you took my last name and not his. You’ve known him longer.”

Trip’s laughter follows us over to the van he arrived in. In the back, he’s loaded up his motorcycle. He opens the passenger door for me, and I climb in. When he comes around and slides into his seat, he looks over at me.

“Jason’s going to be more upset that he didn’t think of it himself.”

I don’t know about that, but still I chuckle. Trip shifts the van into reverse and pulls out of the parking spot. Before we take off, we both turn and look back at what used to be his company. I reach over and place my hand on his thigh.

“I’ll help rebuild your company with you,” I promise softly as we drive away. “And I’m going to find a way to prove Garry was behind this.”

“The latter’s not likely to happen, dollface.”

Maybe not. But if there’s achanceto get Garry behind bars, I’m going to take it.

Twenty-Six

After stopping to grab something quick to eat, which consisted of a burger and fries for Trip and a milkshake for me that helped soothe my sore throat, we pull up in front of my—I meanour—apartment an hour later.

Jason is waiting for us on the sidewalk, pacing back and forth with quick agitated steps. His hair looks wild, as if he’s been raking his fingers through his curls. He comes to a stop when Trip parks. Before I can reach for the door, Jason’s there yanking it open.

"Jason, chill,” Trip says with a sigh. “It’s been a long day for all of us.”

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