It seems like my heart always acts stupid around her, and it’s maddening how much power she already holds over me. I’ve got to be careful, lest I hurt us both when the time comes for me to leave.
When I wake up several hours later, the smell of coffee is permeating the air. I stretch out, my hand blindly searching the spot to my right, only to find it empty. I’m confused for a fragment of a second when I see I’m on a mezzanine, then remember I spent the night at Alara’s.
I blink, rub the fatigue out of my eyes, and glance down at my bare stomach when I feel something on it. Tabby is curled like a loaf atop my abs, glaring at me with her yellow eyes.
I hate to admit this, but I’m warming up to this pet. She’s kind of cute. Part adorable, part demon.
The sound of Alara’s soft voice filters through the room as she sings along to the music she’s playing in the kitchen. Right on cue, my heartbeat starts speeding up. Tabby blinks at me.
“Lo sé,” I whisper. “I’m fucked.”
Taking the cat and putting her down on the mattress, I sit up and look down into the cabin’s open space. Alara is busy folding the blankets we used last night and rearranging the throw pillows on the couch. When she moves toward the small hallway that leads to the bathroom, I stand and make my way down the stairs.
I find my phone on the coffee table. It’s a little bit after seven, and I have a meeting with Dr Ellis at eight-thirty. I need to get home before my sisters or mom notice I was out for the night,because I don’t have the energy to face an interrogation. It’s Monday, okay? Let me start the week in peace.
Leaning against the bathroom’s door frame, I instantly smile as Alara’s eyes meet mine in the mirror’s reflection. She’s about to tie her hair up, but as though she’s remembering my words from yesterday, she lets the waves cascade down her shoulders. She’s only wearing a tiny top and boy shorts, and I’m seconds away from pulling them down and taking her from behind.
Alara can read me better than anyone I’ve ever met, so when she notices the shift in my gaze – from soft and tender to hungry – her eyes fall to my sweatpants where my morning wood is still straining.
I know she’s sore, though, and since she admitted it had been a while since her last hook-up, I decide to give her beautiful body some rest.
I lean my temple on the door jamb. “Morning.”
Her smile is breathtaking. “Hi, superstar. Sleep well?”
I come to stand behind her, grinning at how tiny she looks in front of me. She’s maybe five foot six, but in front of my six-three frame, she appears small, and that makes me want to protect her all the more.
I don’t tell her it’s been the best sleep I’ve had in years – I can’t lay all my cards on the table like that – but it’s the truth. I don’t think we cuddled, aside from the moment we fell asleep, but the simple act of being by her side helped me sleep peacefully. “Pretty good,” I answer. “You?”
She nods, still looking at me via our reflections. The apples of her cheeks are tinted with the most enticing blush. “It’s the first time I slept through the entire night without waking up, so yes.”
“You usually wake up throughout the night?” When she nods, I gather her hair over one shoulder and kiss the other shoulder blade. “Got something stressing you out?”
“Always the same. My future and all.”
I don’t like seeing her so doubtful, so uncertain of herself. She’s such an intelligent woman, quite possibly the most brilliant I know, and I know she’s capable of finding something that’ll make her happy. “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself with that,” I murmur against her temple. “What’s meant for you will come your way at the right time.”
The smile pulling at her mouth is so damn beautiful I almost lose balance. “You’re right.”
“You’ve got all the time in the world to become everything you want to be.”
She cranes her neck enough to lingeringly kiss my cheek. “True too. Who knew you were so wise under all that armor? You’re welcome to stay the night whenever you want, since it looks like we sleep well next to each other.”
I smirk. “Tempting. Might raise my family’s suspicions, though.”
She pops a shoulder, like she couldn’t care less for others’ opinions – a quality I admire about her. “Do you want to stay for breakfast?”
“I’d love to, but I should probably get going and make a pit stop at my place. I have PT in about an hour.”
Sleeping for countless hours after my fall has rebuilt my energy. Maybe pushing my body to its limits wasn’t a good idea, and even if it felt like receiving a slap in the face, I now know that I’m not remotely close to being ready to ride again. I’m still struggling to come to terms with it, the acceptance sitting bitterly in my chest.
I’ve received a lot of support from my family, the Bradfords, Coach, and even Dr Ellis, but I’m glad that no one really knows what happened. Except for Alara, who’s showed up for me in many, many ways.
Honestly, I’m grateful that my recklessness hasn’t worsened the rupture in my knee. If I’d hurt myself even more? If I hadfucked it up all over again? I would’ve never forgiven myself for returning to square one. I’ve barely started being kind to myself.
Alara squeezes a tiny dollop of moisturizing cream onto her hand. “Be honest with him, okay? Don’t tell him that you fell, but you could lie and say you went to the gym with me and hurt your knee on the treadmill.”
I arch a brow, surprised. “You’d cover for me if he asked you?”
