And I thought any lover would feel that way when someone they cared about—theirpartner—who had gone through a lot scheduled every moment of their day from six in the morning until ten at night.
Every.
Single.
Moment.
So yeah, Kevin was being a smartass, but he wasn’t wrong that she didn’t have time to shower or take a shit since it wasn’t listed. I’d thought the same but knew better than to say it.
Now I was extra glad because it had really hurt Bevin. I wasn’t sure how or why so deeply even after what Kevin had said.
And that was before shit went down with Winter. She wouldn’t talk about it. I knew there was more to it besides whatever Winter stepped in because she mumbled something about not being allowed to run a few days and not getting a real run that day even… Before picking up that calendar and going out to the lake.
Bubba reminded me to be patient and Bevin was struggling—had many valid reasons to struggle and it was impressive that she kept moving. The change in Bubba’s attitude towards Bevin was amazing and I knew it wasn’t simply because I was falling for Bevin. Bubba truly respected her.
Good. She was amazing and deserved that.
I was going to get her food, but then I realized she might be in the mood for something else and I wanted to talk to her. It hurt my heart when she flinched as I sat down next to her.
“It’s not stupid. I know you feel the same as Kevin,” she grumbled, giving a half shrug when I didn’t say anything but tapped my fingers on my thigh. “Bubba doesn’t keep his mouth shut as well as you do. But I guess thanks for not saying it in front of the others.”
I shot Bubba a look, but he focused out at the lake. “Mine wasn’t being a snot like Kevin. It was more concern of being too rigid and—it was a bit sarcastic, but not meanly. Just like do you even get to take a shower or your long soaks?”
Her shoulders weren’t so tense then. “Yeah, that’s fair.” She let out a cute huff and tucked some fallen hair behind her ear. “It’s just aguideline. I keep saying that and no one seems to hear me. It helps me. Why can’t people understand that?”
“I want to.” I leaned in and kissed her shoulder. “I want to, foxy. I was hoping you could put it into Sergey for me. All I see is too restrictive and demanding on you and that scares me that it’s not healthy for you after you were locked up all your life. I want you to feelfreeand able to do what you want.”
She looked at me with such hope and kindness that my heart jumped. That one look and my body reacted.
I was so sunk and completely hers.
The sadness slowly left her pretty amethyst eyes and filled with some happiness. “Thanks for putting your concerns into Bevin. I can put this into Sergey for you. Yeah, I can do that.” She cleared her throat in that cute, nervous Bevin way and tried to tuck some more hair behind her ear, but I didn’t even see any.
So I jumped in. “I’m hungry. I wasn’t filled in on what happened, but should you eat?”
“Probably,” she sighed. “Probably high-carb like after a long run.”
“Pizza?”
“Yeah, pizza sounds great. Oh, that place with the huge slices and all the grease from using the good cheese or whatever? That sounds amazing right now.”
“Done. Maybe some protein too from more than just cheese,” I suggested. I was glad when she agreed and wanted chicken legs. The parmesan garlic ones we’d had before. Mostmight want wings with pizza, but Bevin was too impatient saying there wasn’t enough meat for the fuss.
Seriously she was so fun.
“Thanks, Sergey,” she whispered when I was done putting in the order for us to pick up.
“Always.” I kissed her hair when she scooted closer. I was glad I did because she leaned her head on my shoulder and snuggled in when I put my arm around her. “Okay, I’m really listening. Help me see how this works for you instead of chains you down.”
She leaned in and kissed under my chin before pointing to Tuesday… Which it made sense since it was Tuesday. “Clearly, I’m not sticking to it since it’s during midterms and I didn’t even have a run for today. But there wasn’t History of Magic I because I’d already turned in my midterm. It’s all flexible, but I want the guidelines.
“I want the… Lines on the road? Everything is going so fast, and if I block off my time better, people stopaddingto it. I’m booked. Or something needs to be balanced. People kept just going, ‘Oh, we’ll just fit that in or change it.’ Like where? Like…Where?I’m only one person and there are only so many fucking hours. Where do they want me to stick more?
“What should I give up? Because I’m seriously all fucking booked up with sessions, keeping my health up, learning magic I’m behind on, brushes, blankets, toys, treats, basics, andschool. It’s always and, and, and,and, but like and I’m fucking tired of it, you know?” She huffed and pulled her legs in against mine. “But now I can always see the picture of whatI want.
“And Kevin’s extra shitty because everyone kept saying to do what I want and then they’ve been saying not to do this. Like fucking pick. Oh yeah, schedule my shits. Asshole.” She tapped the calendar. “It’s inpencil, so clearly I’m still working on it andthe kinks out for what works for me. But today is the perfect example of why this is awesome.”
“Because it didn’t follow your schedule at all?” I hedged.
