Page 57 of One More Shot
Is everything okay?
LEANNE
it’s fine, i just didn’t budget properly this month
can you borrow me or not?
i already asked mum. she said to ask you or nan
ELIOTT
Don’t ask Nan.
I’ll send you the money.
LEANNE
lifesaver <3
thank u, love u
Dane rises from the floor and comes to settle on the sofa next to me. In one swift movement he drapes an arm over my shoulder and pulls me into his chest.
My eyes flutter shut of their own accord and I allow myself a brief moment of peace, nestled beside him. He doesn’t push me, doesn’t repeat his question. He just waits patiently, his fingers softly threading through my hair until I’m ready.
‘I’m fine,’ I murmur, my face still buried in his chest. ‘Everything is fine.’
He squeezes my arm gently. ‘Baby.’
‘Itis,’ I say firmly. I push myself up from his chest, notfar enough to get out of his grasp, but enough that I can look into his eyes. ‘It’s fine. She just needs to borrow some money. I’ve got the money. It’sfine.’
‘Doesn’t sound fine.’
‘Well, it is.’ My tone is sharper than I’d like, and Dane doesn’t deserve that. ‘Sorry,’ I sigh, shifting to lean into his touch again. ‘Sorry. I’m not – It’s not you.’
He gives me another squeeze. ‘I know.’
‘It’s not even the money,’ I continue. ‘She’s my baby sister. If I can help her, I will.’ I swallow down a lump in my throat I recognise as the threat of oncoming tears. ‘I just worry about her. About all of them, you know? They rely on me a lot, and what happens when I can’t help them?’ My heart thuds furiously in my chest. I don’t think I’ve ever voiced this aloud. It’s the treacherous thought that constantly niggles at the back of mind. ‘What happens when I say no and I’m suddenly not any use to them?’
Dane pulls me in even further and drops his chin on the top of my head. ‘You worry too much, baby.’
‘Someone has to,’ I mutter.
‘And who worries about you?’ He pulls back just far enough so he can look me directly in the eye. My breath stutters in my throat as he brings a hand up to cradle my face in that soft, tender way he’s managed to perfect over the last few months.
‘I don’t need anyone to worry about me.’ The admissionstings my tongue as it leaves my mouth, no matter how true it is.
Dane gives me a soft, sad look as his thumb runs soothing circles around my cheek. ‘I don’t like that.’
I shrug, though I’m not sure how convincing my attempt at nonchalance is. ‘That’s just how it is.’
Dane’s jaw tenses. ‘Definitelydon’t like that.’ His thumb skitters down my cheek and runs along the rim of my lip. I fight back the urge to run my tongue along the path his thumb has just taken. ‘Can you promise me something?’
I nod without thinking. ‘Anything.’
‘If you’re going to worry, I don’t want you to do it alone anymore.’ Another stroke of his thumb along my bottom lip. I feel myself start to lean in. ‘Tell me what’s going on, and we can figure it out together.’ He finally pulls away and I give into the urge and run my tongue along my lips. His gaze follows the path my tongue takes, and he swallows noticeably before continuing. ‘Can you promise me that, baby?’
I don’t even have to think twice about my answer. ‘I can.’
