Page 56 of Always Love You More

“And why do you have so many bags of peas?”

She pulls her lip between her teeth, trying to stifle another laugh. “They were on sale.”

I pull the bag away from my side because it really is cold.

She nods toward the shirt Johnny brought for me. “Do you wanna put that on?”

I eye it wearily before setting down the peas and grabbing the shirt. She stands over me as I attempt to pull it over my head, but I grimace when I raise my arm.

She takes a step toward me. “I can help you …” She pauses. “I mean, if you want me to.”

“Yeah,” I choke out through the pain.

Slowly, she helps me thread my arms through the sleeves, her hands gently brushing against my skin. I’ve never had someone treat me like this before, be this soft with me, this careful.

I try to move, but she tells me to keep still and slides the shirt over me.

She picks up the peas and hands them to me. “When’d you get that tattoo?”

“What?”

“The skull.”

“Oh, yeah, that.” I shift in place, my mind all scattered from how close she is, from the way her hands felt on me and how I wish I could have them on me again. “Not too long ago.”

“Does it mean anything?”

“No, just thought it looked cool.”

“Do you want more?” she asks, lowering herself back into her chair.

I nod. “I’ll probably end up with a bunch.” I press the peas back to my side. “What about you?”

“I don’t know,” she says. “I think I’d get one if it meant something.” She’s quiet for a minute before she asks, “Why’d you go to that fight?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, did you want to do it? Do you like fighting?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I told you my stuff,” she says.

I blow out a breath. “I like to fight, but …”

“But what?”

“I don’t like who I am when I do. I don’t like that I like it.”

She nods like she understands.

I wonder if she really does.

“And it’s a lot of pressure.” I move the peas up to my face. “I always have to win. With my old man, there’s not really any room for error.”

“Yeah,” she says, her voice dropping, “I saw.”

“I …” I run a hand through my hair out of habit and flinch from the pain that shoots up my side. “I wish you didn’t see that.”