Page 28 of Jimmy

She tensed. “Yeah, I’m bad. There must be something wrong with me that no one wants to stick around.”

“No.” He held onto her hands. “Do you think I’m bad?”

“No. Why would you think that?”

“Kurt talked to Sarah,” he said. “I guess they’re friends.”

“That’s not surprising. Sarah knows everyone.” She didn’t pull away but didn’t relax. “So?”

“She told him about the spell. Said you have seven days to find me, then seven days to fall in love.” He met her gaze. “Is that true?”

“I’m not sure.”

He dipped his head. “Karey?”

“I don’t know because she didn’t tell me everything.” She curled into herself. “I knew it gave me seven days to find you, but beyond that, I wasn’t sure. Sarah never gave details, and I trusted her, but I shouldn’t have. Should I go?”

“Why?”

“You don’t want to get mixed up with me. I didn’t even know how the spell worked. For all I know, in three days, you’ll decide I’m junk and we’ll split.” She trembled. “Fuck. I hate the way that sounds.”

“Who said you’re junk?”

She left his lap. “My dad? I was so not good enough for him that I’ve never seen him again. My mom -- she couldn’t lay off the coke enough to parent me. Brett can’t handle it when he can’t control me. Ron wanted my money and car. Now you. I like you, and you’ll realize I’m not good enough, too.” She sucked in a ragged breath. “I sound like a hot mess.”

“I never said you were.”

“Maybe not, but I’ve heard it a lot,” she said. “I’ve pulled myself up a lot, and I’m still doing it. I’ve got money saved back, and I’ll get a better apartment. One of these days I’ll get my car fixed or get a new one. I can do it.”

“I know you can.”

“You do?”

“I do,” he said. “But you’re scared, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Of not being enough again?”

“I need to go. I need air.” She pulled away, leaving him in the living room.

Her words cut to his marrow, and so did the pain in her eyes. He’d been in her shoes. He’d thought he was a throwaway person, too. The Brett thing bothered him because who was this guy to think he could run her life?

It was too cold for her to go outside and too far away for her to set out on foot. If she wanted to go home, he’d take her. He left the couch and found her in the enclosed patio at the back of the house. Her sobs tore at him. He wondered if she’d been abused, too.

“Karey.” He followed his instincts and embraced her. He rocked with her in his arms. “I get it. My mom wasn’t around, and my uncle raised me. I didn’t follow the career path she chose for me, and she cut me out of her life. I was an addict for a while, too. I used tattoos and booze to make myself feel something. Then Christine fucked me over, and I thought I wasn’t worthy of anyone. I’m forty years old and feel like I’m a thousand instead.”

She trembled and said nothing.

“Then you came along, and I dared to hope. I feel like me again.”

She turned around in his arms. “Because of me?”

“Yes.” No question.

“What about when the spell lifts?”

“We see what happens.” He held her tighter. “We’ll keep trying. I’m not ready to quit on you or us because it’s only been a few days. You mean a lot to me, and I want this to keep happening.”

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