Page 83 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

“Well, I’ve been doing it for most of my life. You go to the store late at night? You gotta be able to run in case someone is trying to take or hurt you. You steal something to survive? Again, you gotta be able to run. Your father screws some dude over? Again, with the skill of running.” I bite down on my tongue at the horrified look on his face.

What the hell am I doing? Overshare much, Mads?

His wide-eyed gaze has me wishing I could time travel to thirty seconds ago and vagina-punch myself before I uttered the words aloud.

“That’s how it is on northside?”

“Maybe not for everyone, but the high majority, yes.” I move to stretch my other leg. “Some people are just poor and don’t get into corruption to survive. But a lot of them do.”

He chews on his bottom lip. “Did you? I mean, is that why you were in jail?”

“No, that happened because I was trying to defend myself from these guys who jumped me, and when the cops busted us, I got the blame.” As he continues to gape at me, I add, “It’s just how things work there. Cops arrest whoever they want without getting the facts. And I get it—things can get chaotic with how much crime there is. But I’m totally over getting in trouble over dumb shit I’m not even trying to be involved in.”

He intently studies me. “You must be a strong person. I assumed that about you when I first saw you. You have that take-no-shit-from-anyone attitude. But listening to you talk about your life”—he wavers—“I bet you know how to kick ass.”

“I do, for the most part.”

He smiles, and it’s as warm as the sunlight attempting to erase the coolness of the breeze. “I can show you a way to stretch that’ll help with the pain. Just give me one second.”

“Okay.” I continue to stretch out my legs while he takes out his phone, which I assume is to order his food.

As I wait, I get this strange vibe that I’m being watched. When I peer around, I don’t spot anyone specifically gawking at me. That doesn’t mean anyone wasn’t, though. It’s such a common thing these days, but that mostly happens when I’m with River. But maybe it’s transferring to Finn. He is River’s twin, after all.

“All right,” Finn announces, dropping his phone and rubbing his hands together. “Let me see one of your legs.”

“You told me you would show me a good stretch, so why do you need my leg?” I attempt to decipher if he’s being serious. “Just do a demonstration.”

“I will, but first, I’ll massage your muscles.”

I blink. “What? Why?”

He cocks a brow. “You’re asking me why I think massaging your muscles will help with your pain?”

“That’s a valid point. But it’s weird.”

“Only if you make it.”

He’s probably right.

“Oh, fine.” I scoot closer to him.

He stretches out his legs so I can move even closer then pats his thigh. “Put your leg right here.”

I still feel so odd as I position my leg where he instructed. We’re sitting face-to-face, with me positioned between his legs, one of my legs on top of his thigh, so we’re thigh-to-thigh. And I have the other stretched out beside his hip.

He massages my calf muscles for a second. “Does this part of your leg hurt worse or less than your thighs?”

“Worse, for sure.” I’m stiff as hell, mostly because I’m out of my comfort zone.

Finn quietly sighs. “Maddy, you have to relax, or this won’t help.”

“Sorry,” I mumble, resting back on my hands. “I’m not used to anyone touching me.”

His gaze lifts to mine. “For reals?”

I shrug. “It’s not like my northside high school had amenities like massages.” Which they do here. I just haven’t used them yet.

His fingers travel toward my knee. “Hasn’t anyone ever given you a massage?”

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