Page 64 of Beautiful Trauma
“It’s not just about today. I’ve never really known how to take kindness from others. Not that there’s really been a lot in my life except from my siblings.”
“Who hurt you?” Kellan demanded.
“Too many to say.”
“I’ve got time.”
“For me to list them?”
He shook his head. “To hunt them down.”
My heartbeat thrummed wildly at his statement. “You’d really do that?”
“There shouldn’t be a doubt in your mind, considering I beat the shit out of my own cousins today.”
“Speaking of that, I don’t think I thanked you.”
“You don’t need to.”
“But I do. I owe you my life.”
When Kellan started to protest again, I brought my finger to his lips. “Just let me say it, okay?”
At his nod, I smiled. Then I brought my lips to his cheek. After bestowing a tender kiss, I said, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
With our faces inches apart, Kellan replied, “You’re welcome.”
We stood there frozen, staring into each other’s eyes. When my gaze dipped down to his lips, he jerked away from me. “I need to order some aloe,” he said absently.
“Um, okay.”
As he started to leave the bathroom for his phone, I asked, “Did you order anything besides soup because I’m starving?”
He turned back to me with a smile. “As a matter of fact, I did. I didn’t know what you might eat, so I got some basics like baked chicken, salad, and fruit.”
My stomach growled at the mention of the food. “For what it’s worth, the soup smelled really good.”
Kellan chuckled. “I’d have to agree if it wasn’t mixed with the smell of my burnt skin.”
With a wince, I replied, “I’m such a bitch.”
“You certainly have a new way of taking out enemies,” he teased.”
“Would you stop? I really feel bad about this.”
He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “Another hard-earned lesson of trauma: it’s better to laugh than hold on to anger.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Come on. I also ordered you some clothes.”
With a snort, I replied, “I can’t wait to see what you picked out.”
He grinned. “Smart ass.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: KELLAN
While Mila changed into the black sweatpants and black T-shirt I’d ordered her, I spread the food out for us on the rickety table. When she came back out, I had everything ready for her.
