“That sounds encouraging.”
“It’s supposed to sound terrifying. Most people know when to ease up. You declare war.”
I laughed despite myself, then regretted it when the movement pulled at the strain.
Dean glanced up immediately. “Easy.”
The concern in his face hit harder than the pain had.
He finished the second strip and pressed his palm briefly against the tape to warm the adhesive. His hand stayed there a moment longer than necessary.
“You’re stable,” he said eventually. “You’re not skating until Sunday, so you don’t have to push it tomorrow.” His eyes still focused on his work. “You realize stubbornness isn’t a recognized medical treatment, right?”
“That strategy has worked well so far.”
“Luka.”
The way he said my name unraveled me.
I swallowed once,my pulse quickening.
“I trust you.”
Dean went still. One hand remained spread against my hip while he looked at me with an expression I could not survive for very long.
“Good,” he said softly. He didn’t pull away, but stayed close enough that I could feel the warmth of him surrounding me.
Dean finally sat back on his heels. “Stand.”
I stood carefully and tested my weight. No instability. Relief loosened my shoulders so abruptly Dean noticed at once.
“There,” he said. “Better.”
I looked at him and realized, with terrifying clarity, that leaving this room again would hurt worse than the injury ever could.
Dean’s breathing caught. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again.
No. Don’t do this. You have spent your whole life learning how to remain silent at exactly the wrong moments.
Not tonight.Do kvrata.
I looked him in the eyes, unable to suppress the tremor that trickled through me.
“I tried.”
Dean stilled, his gaze locked on mine.
“I tried to do what they wanted.”
His face tightened, but still he didn’t speak, waiting me out.
“I told myself they were right,” I continued before I lost my nerve. “That distance would fix this. That eventually I would stop…” Ibroke off, frustrated by how inadequate language suddenly felt. “But every time I leave you, I feel like I am tearing myself in half.”
Dean shut his eyes for a second. When he looked at me again, relief and exhaustion and want sat so openly across his face that my chest ached.
“Luka…”
