Page 129 of Five Fingers of Death

“And you’ve been fine with her when we go out.”

That was true, but didn’t he see that this was a different situation? “Look, before, that was with you?—”

“Tahlia will take care of her. You don’t have to worry about a thing,” he answered. “And if you don’t want to go, I’ll tell her you’re busy. It’s not a big deal.”

Just like that. It wasn’t a big deal because he would take care of everything for me. He was doing everything possible to make sure I was comfortable in every aspect, but what was I doing?

Going to therapy.

Healing.

Trying to be a normal person.

Right. All those pesky little things that ordinary people didn’t have to try very hard to succeed at doing.

“Can I think about it?”

“Of course you can. But not right now. We have to get to this movie. Princesses don’t wait for anyone.”

I let him help me into his gigantic truck and listened closely as Carli told me all about her plans to go out with Tahlia. She talked so fast and so much that I didn’t have to worry about filling any of the time. All I had to do was smile at her, and that was good enough. By the time we got to the theater, she was already planning the next time we would go out.

“Alright, kiddo. That’s enough for today,” Jason laughed. “How about we just worry about your day with Tahlia first.”

“And Izzy,” she added.

“If Izzy can make it,” he corrected. “I told you, you can’t assume anyone is going to go.”

I was grateful for the out he was giving me. As much as I wanted to be able to take her up on the offer, I just wasn’t sure I was ready. I didn’t know Tahlia. It would be different if I was going with Eva. At least she understood me.

After we were loaded up with popcorn, drinks, and candy, we headed into the theater. Thankfully, there weren’t a lot of people at the matinee showing. I wasn’t sure I could handle the crowds. Carli plopped down in the first seat and Jason followed her. I wasn’t entirely comfortable in the theater and I wondered what it would be like once the lights went down. I hadn’t been to a movie in years.

“You okay?” Jason asked, leaning over to whisper in my ear.

I nodded, blowing out a shaky breath. My knee was bouncing agitatedly and my hands were clammy. I could do this. I just had to keep breathing.

It’s just a movie. I’m just sitting in a theater.

As soon as the lights went down, I froze. My heart started racing and my breathing turned erratic. Oh God, I was about to have a meltdown in the middle of the theater. I had to get out of there.

I jerked as Jason’s hand landed on my thigh. The popcorn went flying, spilling all over the ground, and then I knocked over the drink in my attempt to catch it. But Jason was fast, catching the drink before it could spill everywhere.

“You’re okay,” he whispered, taking my hand in his. “Breathe. Just breathe,” he murmured, brushing his thumb along the back of my hand. “In and out.” With every stroke of his thumb, he breathed with me, doing his best to calm me down. My eyes darted around the theater, wondering if anyone was watching us, but Jason quickly grabbed my chin and urged me to look at him.

“No one’s here but you and me. Okay?”

I started to look away and he tugged my chin back to him.

“It’s just us, Izzy.” Then his thumb resumed the rhythmic brush against my hand, but his eyes stayed on mine. “Just you and me,” he repeated.

I nodded, watching his lips as he repeated the words. Slowly, my heart started to calm. I was still nervous, but I wasn’t about to jump out of my skin anymore.

“There you are,” he whispered. Then he leaned forward and brushed his lips over mine.

And just like that, my heart was racing for a completely different reason. I settled back into the seat and watched the previews, but I couldn’t get my mind off his lips, or the fact that his hand never left mine.

28

JASON

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