Page 40 of Blueberry Cake
Oliver fake-gagged next to them. “God, you’re giving me the ick.”
“You’re just jealous.” To prove his point, he kissed Queenie again, wrapping his arm tight around her waist and dipping her down. She reached up, her arms locking behind his neck to deepen the embrace.
“Yuck.” Oliver playfully grimaced his disgust, but it was in vain. Boyd noted his friend’s hidden grin when he took his swing.
As they drove home, Boyd laid his hand on her thigh, absentmindedly drawing circles with his thumb. His reaction to Oliver calling Queenie disabled still lingered and he didn’t know how he should feel about it—howshewould feel about it.
“What’s on your mind?” she asked, laying her hand over his.
He gave her a quick glance before returning his focus to the road. “If I tell you, I want you to know I don’t mean anything in a harsh way.”
“Are you going to break up with me?”
“No! I just don’t want you to think I’m an insensitiveidiot.”
She tilted her head, forehead wrinkling with the furrow of her brows. “You’re scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to, I just don’t know how to voice my thoughts.”
“I won’t take offence; please just say it.”
He let out a long breath and braced himself to pop their dreamy bubble. “How would you feel if someone referred to you as disabled? I mean, I don’t see you as disabled, but maybe I’m just completely blind to it. Are you struggling? Should I be helping you more? Like I—”
Queenie stopped his anxious rambling with a squeeze to his hand. “Stop,” she said softly. “Take a breath and let me answer.”
He did, eyes fixed on the road.
“I don’t feel offended when someone calls me disabled. At least, not anymore. It used to hurt because all I wanted was to be normal like anyone else, but every teenager feels that way. No one ever wants to stick out of the crowd.” She brought his hand to her pillowy soft lips. “I have struggles, but I also have coping mechanisms. For instance, my car is modified for my needs, though getting the drivers licence was a little more difficult. I have family and friends that back me up, and I have figured out how to do a lot of things to feel normal. I’m just different. Sometimes the label helps, sometimes it sucks. It really depends on the situation.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What for? Asking questions? I’m not upset nor have you ever treated me as though I’m less than capable. You didn’t question my ability to golf, nor did your friends and that means the world to me.”
“I thought we’d figure it out or you’d tell me if youneeded something.”
“And that’s the point. You don’t make me feel inadequate and let’s be honest, if I struggled in any sense, you’d help me.”
“Of course—you’re my woman.”
Queenie’s lips pressed against his knuckles, vibrating with a soft laugh. “I am and I’ve never felt more at home with anyone else.”
“You’re making me tear up,” he admitted, voice thick. “You’re a dream come true, and I never want to have to feel your absence in my life.”
“Boyd…” Queenie’s voice shook, wet cheek pressing into his palm. “I hope you have tissues in here somewhere.”
“Glovebox.” With that, tears crept out of his eyes and dampened his beard.
“We’re such softies,” she laughed, drying his cheeks for him. “Maybe next time we get all emotional, we’ll make sure you’re not driving; seems a little safer.”
He chuckled and took the tissue from her. “I would never let anything happen to you.”
“I know. Even though I’m not as big and strong as you, I’ll never let anything happen to you either.”
God,he didn’t deserve this woman and there was no way he would ever let her go.
Queenie
Queenie was exhausted on Monday, but in the best way possible. She felt secure in her relationship with Boyd, and that was a powerful feeling. Letting him meet her parents and hearing their positive feedback after had taken such a weight off her shoulders. Not that she’d ever thought it would go wrong, but her parents were such an important part in her life that she would’ve had trouble with them not accepting him.
