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The only problem is, I don’t kno to do it I’ve never coht about it But she needs it froht now I refuse to be just another asole who let her down
Not sure what else to do, I run a gentle hand down her back, stroke ainst her ear and whisper a bunch of nonsense words that don’t seem to ainst me, and I can feel her heartbeat finally start to settle as she cuddles even closer
I want to hold her like this forever Want to take away all the pain and bullshit she’s had to go through in the past and just make it all okay She deserves more than what that bastard did to her, deserves so much more than the hand she’s been dealt
Hell, she deserves so mucharound with his own fking death wish But that’s just too daive her up It’s obvious she has ridiculously fked-up taste in guys--present company totally included--so it’s not like I can turn her loose on the world and hope she ends up okay Because she obviously won’t Whichto have to be so deserves it She fking deserves everything
"That’s why I sent you away today," she tells ured that much out already "I saw that video and I just freaked out It was like looking at Reht before he died All confidence and wildness and total commitment You ride the line like he does, in the spot so narrow that life and death start to blend together"
I clear ht We both know she’s right
"I’m sorry I know you’re not him I know I shouldn’t coht Saw you doing so aain and--"
"I love you" The words slip out before I even know I’ to say them But once they’re out, I don’t want to take theed to fall in love with this beautiful, beautiful girl when I didn’t think it was possible for me to love anyone Ever
"What did you say?" she asks after a minute, her voice broken and pupils bloith shock
"I said I love you And I’h "Yeah, I am It’s just that since o there yet Not sure I’ll ever be ready to go there
"I know about your sister"
"You do?" Shit How? Did Cam tell her when she told her about the bet? Or Ash, ht out ofout like a total pussy
"I’ht She knows the sanitized version, the PR version that Mitch has made sure circulated ever since I became a pro snowboarder She doesn’t know the real truth If she did, she’d probably be running away fro could One destructive son of a bitch in her life is obviously enough
If I were a betterherself into But I’m not and I’ve never clai word Instead I put my mouth to better use
Her lips open underood, like caramel and coffee and sweet, shipped creah a little as she gasps and treht here, at this htmares still and silent within me
Desperate for ue along the roof of her ap where one of her teeth is just a tiny bit crooked Then, because I can--because she’s ue under hers and play with her frenulu at ?" she whispers
"Do you like it?"
"Yes" Her head falls back on a moan as I do it a second and then a third ti at it and then soothing the little sting with , baby? What do you need?"
She looks ht in the eye "I know it’s only been a few days, but I need to tell you I love you, too, Z"
Her words hit ehammer, even as I tellto be nice That she doesn’t want to leave rabs my face between her hands and plants a fierce kiss on my mouth "Because it’s true"
"How can it be? I’m--" A loser A bastard A fk-up who can’t be trusted with anything I’s people say about s they don’t I know it I’ve always known it Why doesn’t she?
I open my mouth, start to say it to her I need to say it to her--she has a right to know--but I just can’t Because if I say it, then she’ll leave, just like everybody else Everybody but Luc and Cao Not now Not yet
"You’re a pain in the ass, is what you are," she tells ant Too talented Too used to getting your oay Too impulsive Too handsoht behind the ear "Too kind Who the hell knohat I see in you"