One
Henry
“Ready to go, babe?” Travis kisses my cheek, taking my arm in his.
With my eyes locked on my latest sculpture that has a giant sold sign on top, I smile and nod. “Yeah. I think it’s time you take me to that celebratory dinner you promised me.”
“My stomach agrees.” He rubs it, sending me a wink, and I laugh, tugging him past a group of people. We exit the exhibit and I shiver, holding an arm around my chest.
“I told you to run back into the house and grab your jacket earlier, didn’t I?” He cocks his head, picking up his steps with me to the car.
“Yeah, but I was hoping you’d go get it for me.”
“I don’t ever make you go back for my jacket, do I?”
We both slide into the car at the same time and I sigh, cranking up the heat as soon as he starts the engine. “No, but I would get it if you asked me to.”
His lips press together and he glares at me. “You’d get mine if I asked but not yours when you need it?”
He doesn’t get it. I wanted him to show any type of effort that he cares about me. That he hates the idea of me being cold. I could have gotten it myself, of course, but I was hoping that for once he’d do something for me without me asking. I’m always doing stuff for him. I’m always making an effort. And yes, I care more about him getting cold than I do myself. I know he has his own way of showing me he loves me, but I can’t help but want more. Like him offering me his coat when he didn’t flinch once after we stepped outside.
If I thought he needed it as much as me or more, I wouldn’t have taken it, but I just wanted him for once to show an ounce of thoughtfulness. Now I’m even sounding silly to myself. It’s true, I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic, but I don’t think my expectations are too unrealistic.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m sounding insane right now. Just ignore me.”
Lifting my hand, he kisses the back. “You’re hungry is all. We’ll get some food in you and you’ll start thinking rationally again.”
“Yeah.” I bite my lip, my stomach tightening. “That’s what it is.”
He pulls his hand away, setting it on the wheel, and backs out of the parking lot without another word. I put on the radio, turning it up when a Christmas song I like is playing.
He grunts, side-eyeing me. “You know I hate Christmas music altogether, but especially in November.”
“I know. I just really like this song.”
“I’ll tell you what.” He presses his lips into a tight smile, slowing down at a stoplight. “Since it’s your big day, I’ll let you pick anything else and I won’t complain.”
My lips twitch. “But I want to hear this.”
“Yes, but I’m driving and it’s giving me a headache.”
It’s always about what it’s doing to him. “Just this one. Please. It’s halfway over.”
His fingers squeeze the wheel. “Yeah, I’m sorry, but I can’t take another second.” He reaches his hand toward the knob, and I block him with my finger, smirking.
Laughing, he elbows me. “Stop. I’m trying to be serious here about me possibly getting us into a car wreck from lack of concentration.”
“You’re being dramatic. It’s one song.”
“It’s more than just about the song. It’s like you’re purposely trying to piss me off now.” His face pulls tight and he swerves, pushing my hand away. Only seconds of him taking his eyes off the road is all it takes. The car spins on the icy road. Travis pulls the emergency break and we stop. He sighs in relief, and as he’s turning his head to look at me, a car slams into us from behind and we slide off the road. Our vehicle flips over, and my head knocks against the glass so hard my whole world goes black.
***
“Baby?” a rough voice says, a finger swiping over my cheek.
My eyes blink open, feeling as heavy and achy as the rest of me. My head is pounding and when I look around everything is a blur. Colors blend together, and I can make out shapes of what I think are people but not much else.
“Baby? Can you hear me?”
