Page 209 of We Shouldn't Be Together
I swipe a hand over the weeping gash on my leg. “No biggie. Done that plenty of times.” I point to a spot on my knee. “This scar is from wiping out on my skateboard.” I show her the twisted scar of my wrist. “Got this when I fractured my wrist.”
“Ouch. That sounds so painful.”
I tap on my shoulder. “I’ve got two scars on this shoulder from tumbling down the other side of this mountain.”
She lifts her hand, running a finger across the scar below my left eye. “I didn’t realize you had so many more than just this one.”
I capture her hand and give her fingertips a gentle peck. “We all get a little scratched up sometimes.”
She pouts, nodding.
I gently cup her hands in mine. “But this is different. I don’t care if I get banged up, but I care if you do. I’m sorry this happened.”
“It’s not your fault I’m a klutz.”
“It’s my fault anything bad happens to you. I told you I’d protect you, and I’m doing a bad job.”
She pushes herself forward and kisses me. “No, you’re not.”
“You’re bleeding.”
She sniggers. “Honestly, I’m more peeved at the trashed manicure.”
I smile at her attempt at humor. “Can I take you home now?”
She nods. “Yes, please.”
I scoop my arms under her and lift her up as I stand
Her arms shoot around my neck, and she cowers in my arms. “Is this safe? We still need to get down this incline.”
I peck her cheek. “I got you. I’m not letting anything else happen to you.”
She snuggles into me, burying her face in the nape of my neck. Okay, a guy could get used to this.
More careful than I’ve even been in my life, I sidestep down the hiking trail. I skid twice as the gravel gets under my sneakers. I hate the way it makes Tabby yelp and shudder.
“It’s okay, baby,” I whisper. “I got you.”
Her fingers grip the collar of my hoodie. “Don’t drop me, Kai. Don’t drop me.”
I rub a circle on her back as I keep her body pressed against mine. “I won’t. I promise.”
I get off the hiking trail and across to the car as the rain starts up again. When I set Tabby down in front of the passenger side door, she stops me from reaching for the handle. Lifting on her tippy-toes, she plants a soft and sweet kiss on me.
“I know you’ll protect me, Kai,” she whispers as raindrops fall onto her face. “I don’t think you’re dangerous.”
“I don’t think,” I admit. “Something inside me takes over. Almost like I can’t help it. Like it’s an itch that needs to be scratched.”
“You mean, to do something adventurous?”
“Yeah. I guess I wanted to share that with you.”
“Well, I appreciate that. But maybe I’m just not cut out for it.”
“Don’t say that. I just need to bring my eagerness down.”
She pouts. “Or just ditch me to hang with Jamie and the others instead.”
