Whisper (Whisper #1)(16)

I don’t know why she’s asking me. I don’t even know why she’s here.

Ward is nowhere to be seen, so I wonder if he’s tasked her with watching me, to make sure I don’t take off — not that I’d even know how to get back to my cell from here. In any case, Cami doesn’t look like she’d make a very good guard. She’s all angelic smiles and sunshine, glowing from the inside with all the color that the rest of Lengard lacks.

“I hope you like pancakes,” Cami says, motioning for me to follow as she moves back to the fridge. “I don’t know how to make much else, but my pancakes are amazing.”

She pulls out milk, eggs, butter and a pint of strawberries. After she dumps them on the bench, she opens the cupboard and retrieves some flour, syrup, vanilla extract and — are those chocolate chips? I haven’t seen chocolate, let alone tasted it, in years.

Cami laughs suddenly. “You should see your face. Here.” She hands the chocolate packet to me. “Have at it.” When I hesitate, she nudges me and says, “Go on. From what I’ve heard, you haven’t exactly been spoiled during your time here. You deserve a little indulgence.”

Needing no further encouragement, I tear open the bag and pour a handful out onto my palm. One by one I place the chips on my tongue, closing my eyes in ecstasy when the taste hits me.

Cami snickers. I know I must look ridiculous, but I can’t help it. Chocolate is considered a girl’s best friend for good reason. Nothing can compare.

I tip out another large handful and force myself to place the bag back on the bench before I’m tempted to finish it off.

Cami shoves a bowl into my arms. “Whisk this for me, will you? Stop when it’s light and fluffy.”

I haven’t baked anything since I was a child, but I’m relieved she’s given me a task. It means I’m not standing around awkwardly, wondering what to do. Wondering why I’m not coming up with a plan to escape before Ward returns. It also means Cami trusts me to complete her instructions with limited supervision, and I feel a trickle of anxiety when I realize that I don’t want to disappoint her. It’s been a long time since I’ve cared what another person thinks.

I can’t handle where my mind is leading me, so I focus instead on following Cami’s instructions while she bustles around the small kitchen, turning on the stove and melting butter in the pan.

I’m not sure what “light and fluffy” means, but when I think I’ve whisked enough, I tilt the bowl for her inspection and watch her eyes light up. Cami’s eyes are green like Ward’s, but hers are darker, richer. Less … knowing.

“Perfect!”

She takes the batter from me and stirs in the choc chips before moving to the stove.

As she begins cooking, I wash and slice the strawberries. I finish just in time for her first batch of pancakes to be ready. We grab plates, cutlery and the bottle of syrup and move to the table to take our seats.

“You have to try it like this,” Cami says, sliding a perfectly golden pancake onto my plate, dousing it with syrup and piling on the strawberries.

It looks like a mouthful of cavities waiting to happen, but I’m willing to risk a trip to the dentist if it means I get to enjoy what’s resting in front of me.

“Dig in,” Cami says, constructing an identical mountain of sweetness for herself.

A single bite is all it takes for me to realize that my life will never be the same again. And it’s not because of the incredible taste; it’s because I stupidly — stupidly — moan out loud …

… Just as Ward walks into the room.

He stops dead at the sound and stares at me in astonishment. It’s all the proof he needs that my squeak last night wasn’t a figment of his imagination.

The pancake turns to ash in my mouth.

Cami giggles. “I think she likes my cooking. Don’t you agree, Landon?”

Ward’s eyes are locked on mine. “It certainly sounds that way.”

I think I may throw up.

“Have a seat, big brother. This is one of my best batches yet. But Jane did all the whisking, so half the praise goes to her.”

Ward moves slowly toward us and lowers himself into a chair. Cami passes him a plate, and he finally flicks his eyes away from mine when the door opens.

“I hope you’ve saved some for me,” Enzo says, sauntering into the room and dropping casually into the seat beside me as if we’ve breakfasted together every morning of our lives.

Cami creates a pancake mountain for him and dances back to the kitchen to cook up more batter. I’m left sitting at the table with Ward opposite me, Enzo beside me and gaping silence surrounding me.

At last, Enzo speaks. “Nice outfit, JD,” he says between mouthfuls. “Looks comfy.”

“Enz,” Ward says, his voice carrying a warning.

“What? It does! She should wear your clothes more often is all I’m saying.”

I’m grateful when Cami returns with another steaming pile of food. She flips a second pancake onto my plate and places the remainder in the middle of the table. Ward and Enzo devour the offering so fast that I’m left staring. When I catch Cami’s amused eyes, I can’t stop my lips from curling up at the corners, a secret smile I share only with her.

Or, that’s what I think, until I see Ward staring at my mouth, just before Enzo says, “I’ve never seen you smile.”