Page 79 of The Off-Limits Play

I didn’t see the lightning flash, but that thunder made me jolt.

And Nylah’s out there alone, limping down the street and?—

“Fuck this.”

I start running, not caring what she said about me leaving her alone.

CHAPTER29

NYLAH

It’s impossible not to cry as I limp down the street.

My leg is killing me. My entire body hurts, all the way inside me.

This rain.

That flash of lightning, the terrifying roll of thunder.

My breath catches as I fight off a wave of panic.

I probably should have let Carson help me, but I was so mad I wasn’t thinking straight. He hurt me. He might not have meant to, but he shouldn’t have been fighting! He wouldn’t listen when I tried to get him to stop.

And that feral look on his face.

I shudder, then whimper as another flash of lightning illuminates the distant sky. The storm is nowhere near me yet, but I still brace myself for that thunder, sucking in a shaky breath and letting out a soft sob when it rumbles through the air.

Fresh tears cascade down my cheeks, blending with the rain. My teeth start to chatter and I stumble on the path, having to slow down to accommodate this stupid leg.

I hate you!I scream at my knee, my thigh, picturing the ugly scars that have killed my chances of ever wearing miniskirts and shorts again.

I live in long pants and skirts because I don’t want the world to see.

But I can’t hide this damn limp.

Fuck, I’d been doing so well too.

And now…

My stomach shakes with more tears as I force myself to keep going in spite of the pain. I’ve spent hours doing that right. Forcing my body to do what I want it to. Battling the curse of a broken body.

And now my spirit feels broken, too, bruised by the thunder and wounded by the guy I can’t stop obsessing over. The guy I couldn’t wait to see. The one who thought beating up his teammate was more important than the precious minutes we get together.

“Nylah!”

I jolt to a stop, looking over my shoulder and spotting Carson racing down the street after me.

Damn, he looks good when he runs. He’s the perfect athlete, beautiful stride, speed, body. Add in the wet shirt and he’s sex on a stick.

It’s almost distracting enough to kill my anger, but I manage to hold on to the last of it, turning away from him and yelling over my shoulder, “I told you to leave me alone!”

“I can’t do that.” He stops behind me, his breathing ragged as he scoops me into his arms.

“Hey!” I try to fight him, but he’s too strong, hitching me easily into a princess hold and walking along like I’m not yelling in his face. “Put me down!”

“Not gonna happen.”

“You are such an ass!”

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