Page 22 (1/2)

"Was the boy okay?"

"He’s like a cockroach I could cut his head off, and he’d still run around"

She sighed at his unwillingness to give her a straight answer "I know I have no right to tell you what to do, but I don’t like people being hurt because of me If you want to bla the"

He stared at her, hisopen "You think I look at you that way?"

"When you attack people, it’s like you’re upset they’re ers in his hair, tugging on a handful of the locks "I have a problem witha deep breath "Look, it’s not because I think you belong to me--it’s because I want you to be mine"

Her brow furrowed "Is there a difference?"

"That didn’t sound right Christ, I care about you, okay? I overreact because I don’t want anyone to hurt you Andyou more than any of those assholes, but I don’t do it intentionally You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met You can understand me the way no one else ever could" He scooted closer to her "La azza"

"You know I don’t knohat thatfroers along her flushed cheek His touch was soft, and she leaned her head in his direction "My beautiful girl," he said

She took in his expression "You think I’m beautiful?"

"I don’t think you’re beautiful, Haven I know you are"

His words flustered her "You are, too"

He s I’m beautiful?"

She nodded "A beautiful person"

"I’ve been called everything under the sun, but a beautiful person was never one of them"

Never in Haven’s life had she encountered a disaster like the one that hout the roo the tables and counters Food was s wretchedly like the inside of a trash can There was broken glass in the fas out of place

Haven stood at the botto the mess, as Carmine disappeared into the laundry roos "You start in the kitchen, and I’ll go deal hatever got broken I know not everything survived the night intact"

"You don’t have to do this," she said "I can get it"

"I know you can, Haven," he said "Just let me try to help"

She went into the kitchen and cleared off the counter, hearing noises every few ot all the cans picked up and lugged the bag over to the side of the roo a second trash bag on the floor

"You don’t have to do those by hand," he said "We have a dishwasher"

"I don’t kno to operate it"

Carmine opened the dishwasher and pulled out the top rack "Get your hands out of that nasty water and fill this up"

She looked at hi , but she conceded and loaded it with the dishes When it was filled, he smiled proudly--whether proud of himself or of her, she wasn’t sure

Car his eyes as he pressed a few buttons It ht away and he snatched his hand aith surprise

Haven laughed as soon as he walked out, knowing she’d been right--he was guessing

She did so back into the kitchen The moment she neared the sink, she hit a slippery spot, and her feet caht and looked around, her eyes widening at the bubbles pouring out of the dishwasher

"Carmine!" There was no way that was normal Footsteps hastily approached as he sprinted into the kitchen She opened herthe words, "Watch out!" from her lips before he hit a patch of sudsy water and slid

"Fuck!" he said, treading through the soapy mess to the dishwasher Frantic, he pushed buttons and yanked on the door, trying to get it to stop It continued to ooze bubbles, and he groaned as he slapped the front of it Te, he kicked the door, and Haven winced as his foot left a s the buttons again until the dishwasher abruptly stopped