I gave a cheap grin. “Thank you for your business.” And I snatched the money. With a quick sneer and one last look at Laken, they left.
Laken tugged me in closer, kissing my head. And though I’d been ready to tussle, his touch brought me back to the world. “You alright?”
“Me?” We lowered into our seats, and I kicked my feet up on his legs. The sun’s warmth kissed our skin and he held on to me gently. “Yeah. I could definitely get used to this.”
He furrowed his brows.
“The ‘Oh, you want to be mean to me? Well, my boyfriend will beat you up,’ thing,” I explained. With his soft chuckle, I continued, “Nobody’s giving me shit anymore. Even though I think I could’ve taken him on my own… if it came to that.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah,” I dragged out. “Any time, any day.”
Laken hummed. “So I’m your guard dog? You’re using me for my body, aren’t you?”
My grin erupted. “For every purpose it has to offer. Like a feet cushion.” I nodded to where my legs rested on his.
He shook his head. “Nothing but trouble.”
“Wait.” I paused. “Is there anyone I shouldn’t run my mouth to? Anyone you’d be afraid to fight?”
Time ticked by and his head tilted left to right, debating his answer. Even in the shade, he looked like the sun to me. Full of warmth and life, thriving more when sharing thosegifts. His skin was kissed by the rays, his eyes but a lost sea I’d happened to find a home in. But he shrugged and gave a smug frown. “No, I could take them.”
Why that made me more attracted to him, I wasn’t sure. All I knew was I could takehimany day, in my own way. But for now, I wanted to sit and sell cream and eggs, maybe make a little coin.
And that’s exactly what we did.
Bouncing on my tiptoes, I eagerly waited as Laken counted how much we’d made at the market. Apparently, being a friendly young couple had helped draw people in for business. Laken said we made more sales than he saw my father make.
Back at home, the sanctuary remained intact. All animals had all their limbs. And fortunately, Gordon swam happily in his bowl. My back ached; sitting in a chair behind our stand for hours had made me sore. Then again, it could’ve been the ride there and back. Or what we’d done on the way back.
As much as I wanted to relive that memory in my mind, I couldn’t stop picking at my fingers and raking my hands through my hair. We had eight days until the fundraiser and nine days until our debt came due.
Laken set the last coin down.
My nervous feet stopped moving, and the world became silent around us as our eyes locked in a deadly stare. Nothing could be heard, save for heavy breathing, perhaps. “So?” Inudged, studying his masked expression for an answer. “Did we do good?”
I dug my fingertips into the counter, leaning farther and farther over. Anticipation ate at my bones, my blood rushing into them as my heart pounded.Come on. Come on. Come on. Tell me already.
“We didn’t make what your father made…”
That was all I needed to hear. My stomach dropped. I pulled away from the kitchen, facing the living room as I bit my nails. I wasn’t even a nail biter. But my body needed something to ease it, something to calm its panic.It’s fine. Everything will be fine.I could sell a kidney to beef-jerky man, and maybe then we’d make a dent. Maybe I could even sell wax moldings of my—
“We made a lot more.”
What?“What?” I whipped back around and nearly hurled a fishbowl at the smirking little ass.
“To answer your question, yes. We did good.” He weighed the purple velvet bag in his hand, lowering his arm with its apparent heaviness. “Very good, actually.”
My chest heaved, and it took only two steps for my arms to fling around his neck. Laken’s arms wrapped around my waist, and his embrace felt like comfort embodied. His hand wrapped around my lower back, tugging me closer as if he couldn’t get enough, while the other held my head, raking through my hair. Pulling apart enough to look up at him, I smiled.
We were doing this.
We could make it work.
If it was him and me, we’d be fine.
“I have something for you.” He grinned, and my nervous system kicked up as he motioned me to wait and ran off to the storage room.
