Page 68 of A Wrench in the Plan
But I was glad she was here. Glad she didn’t hate me. Glad I still had her. And I swore I’d never take advantage of her kindness and friendship, unknowingly or not, again. I’d pay more attention from now on, and make sure she knew that there shouldn’t be secrets between us, no matter how hard they were to share.
“How did things get so messed up?” she asked softly.
Her head tilted back, eyes meeting mine. My gaze dropped to the scar on her chin. The stitches were gone and it was healing, but the mended skin was still raised and angry. I softly ran the pad of my thumb over it. Tears filled her eyes, but she leaned into my touch. I hoped she knew that she was still beautiful.
“I think the better question is, what do we do now? Where do we go from here?” I asked.
“What do you mean? Wherecanwe go?”
“Well, we’re okay, right?”
“Yeah,” she rushed to say. “You’re not going to lose me and I hope that I’m not going to lose you.”
“No,” I said, lips tilting up in a small smile. “You can’t get rid of me.”
“Good.” The smile she sent back to me was tired and a bit forced. “So then what?”
“I don’t want to take anything away from you. If you and Chry could have a future together, I don’t want to be the reason you don’t at least try.”
“Ev…” she said softly. “I’ve wanted it for so long, you know? Dreamed about it more times than I’ll ever admit. But all those times, it didn’t feel like this.”
“What do you mean?”
“This doesn’t feel right.” She sighed. “Call me silly, but it doesn’t feel like a fairytale should.” I huffed out a laugh. “I know! I know. It’s stupid. But you know those feelings you get when the two people in a movie or book finally come together and it’s like it’s the start of what could be next. I’m not looking for a happily ever after, I know those aren’t real and that relationships take work. But I just… always felt like I was holding my breath with the characters until that moment they get struck or things line up for them and thatdingmoment of everything is finally going right. The moment we can all inhale, and that breath that is taken in is so fresh and invigorating.”
“Wow,” I said, trying not to laugh. It was cute, and though it was a bit silly, I completely felt everything she was saying. I kind of loved it, and maybe I wanted that moment for myself too. “You have this way of seeing things that is always so… inspiring and beautiful.”
“Don’t make fun—”
“I’m not,” I rushed to say. “I promise, I’m not. You know, one of the first things I noticed about you was your smile. I could tell you were wide-eyed and nervous, but your smile was so warm and welcoming. It was like you were telling everyone else that felt nervous too that it’s going to be okay. That they weren’t alone and that no matter what happened, there was always a ray of light to focus on. Your smile has always been that ray of light for me.Youare that for me.”
Her eyes welled with tears. They spilled over, but I didn’t think it was because I’d said something wrong.
“I’ve always loved the bright side of myself, even when others made fun of me because of it.” She bit her bottom lip as her lids fell closed. “But I’m worried I’ve lost part of her.”
“You haven’t,” I assured her, hugging her tightly. “She’s just on pause for the time being. She has to heal and I know she’ll be back.”
Before either of us could say anything else, the door to my room burst open. Since I was on high alert because Dustin was still out there, I jumped out of the bed, putting myself between Cat and whatever danger it might be.
But there was no danger. Not unless you counted a very intense-looking Chry.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I blurted out as I let my fisted hands relax.
“I have to…” He started pacing, eyes unfocused. “I just need to say some stuff.”
I glanced over at Cat. She shrugged, looking as confused as I felt.
This need to protect her pulled at me, and I was crawling back onto the bed before I was really aware of it. My arms went around her as her head went to my shoulder.
Chry paced the small patch of floor at the end of my bed. His hand worked through his hair, fisting the strands in a way I’d never seen him do before. I was very concerned.
“Sparrow was trying to tell me something the other day…” he mumbled like he was still working something out in his head.
When his head whipped in our direction, there was this wild look in his eyes that caused every hair on my body to stand on end.
“I got it wrong,” he said. “But I think I understand what she was saying now. It clicked inside my head the moment you left me.” He was looking at Cat.
Neither of us said anything. I honestly didn’t know what to say. I had no idea what he was going on about.
