Page 68 of Until We Weren't

“It’s a match,” Destiny corrected her.

“Whatever,” Faith said, rolling her eyes.

They both chuckled and dug into their breakfast. The game had them both cheering and their team was ahead at halftime. Destiny got up and took their plates to the sink while Faith put the snack trays away.

“We can do the dishes when the game is over,” Faith said.

“Okay, but I’m helping,” Destiny said. “Breakfast was delicious. Thanks for making it.”

“You can make it next time,” Faith said with a sly grin.

Destiny sat down next to her and nodded. Faith scooted an ottoman out in front of them so they could prop their feet up during the second half of the game. As they watched, Faith crossed her legs and Destiny noticed a scar on the back of her leg. It hadn’t been there before and it looked substantial.

“What’s this?” Destiny asked, touching the puckered skin on Faith’s calf.

“Oh, that was an accident,” Faith said.

“It looks pretty bad.”

“It was,” Faith said. “I was in an awkward position and jabbed myself with a sharp shooter.”

“Damn!” Destiny exclaimed. “That had to hurt.”

“Yeah, it scared me,” Faith said. “If Mark hadn’t been there I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was bleeding pretty bad. He quickly applied a tourniquet and rushed me to the ER,” Faith explained. “They were able to stop the bleeding and repair the artery I hit.”

Destiny felt a shiver run through her at the thought of anything happening to Faith. She looked up into Faith’s eyes and suddenly grabbed her. Destiny pulled Faith into a tight hug and held her close. “If anything ever happened to you…” she whispered. “I could’ve lost you.”

“It’s okay, Des,” Faith said softly. “I’m right here.”

Destiny could feel Faith’s warm breath on her neck and held her a little tighter. As if in slow motion, Destiny pulled her head back and stared into Faith’s eyes. She glanced down at Faith’s lips and without thinking she closed her eyes and softly pressed their lips together. An overwhelming feeling of being right where she belonged wrapped around Destiny like a comforting blanket.

She felt Faith’s fingers gently touch her face then Faith slightly pulled away.

“Our team just scored,” Faith said softly.

Destiny was aware of the noise and commotion coming from the TV. She smiled and pulled back but didn’t let Faith go. “Sorry,” she said quietly. “I can’t lose you.”

Faith smiled. “You won’t.”

Destiny nodded and leaned back on the couch, letting Faith go, but she took Faith’s hand between both of hers and held it there the rest of the match.

The reality that Faith had been in the emergency room, bleeding seriously, and Destiny had no idea sat like a knot in her stomach. What else had she missed?

A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she thought back to their brief kiss. That feeling of certainty and assurance was still with her. She knew why, but wasn’t quite ready to accept all that it meant.

As the game ended Destiny asked, “Would you want to work on the presentation this afternoon?”

“Yes,” Faith said strongly. “I want to watch the video again.”

“How about I go home and take a shower? I’ll come back this afternoon, then we can study the video and decide how we want to present it so they can’t turn us down.”

“You can shower here,” Faith said. “The tiny shower isn’t so bad.”

Destiny tilted her head and smirked. “I don’t have any other clothes here. If I would’ve known I was spending the night I would’ve brought something with me.”

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