Page 75 of Teaching the Kot'oll Coach

“How long was that? I’m fine. The accident feels like a lifetime ago already.” He leans closer with his eyes sparkling with fire. “Are you looking for an excuse to give me another check-up?”

I huff and smack his shoulder. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Well, I’m thinking about check-ups, you’re the one thinking about something else.”

“I guess you aren’t that smart after all.”

“Hey!” He scowls at me. “I’m not that bad.”

Did he realize I heard him? No?

I shrug. “I... Believe me, you don’t want to be with me and my past hook-ups.”

“No way. You can’t scare me.” He holds my cheek in his big hands. He also holds my waist with his other big hands. “Tell me about that.”

“So... Do you run a stupid business somewhere?”

He shakes his head. “I’m a floatball coach and sports teacher who works with you in the school. What are you talking about?” He glances at the coffee table. “Do humans get drunk on soda water? That’s weird.”

I snort a laugh. He is crazy in the room for sure. “No, I’m not drunk.”

“I don’t have a business to the side. Come on...”

“Do you gamble?”

“Haha, no. Even though I love floatball, I don’t bet on anything. I’m just going to lose my money. Never tried that.”

Um...

He says, “But that’s about me. That’s not something about you that’ll stop me from wanting you. I don’t even understand that myself, but I just know.”

“Know what?”

He winks. “That we’re good for each other.”

I tilt my head to the side. “I’m not going to trust you.”

Compared to my ex who scammed me of everything, Telke seems to be such straightforward and... not that decorative with his words and everything.

“What’s not to trust me with?” He surely looks innocent enough. He narrows his eyes on me. “Did something happen in the past? Did someone hurt you? Someone lied to you?”

He grunts and moves, but he remembers I’m cuddling with him soon enough that he stops getting off the couch. He flexes his arms. “Where’s that guy? I’m going to punch him for you. No one gets to hurt you and—“

“Stop.”

He stares at me and blinks, stopping almost immediately.

I shrug. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

“Oh... Okay... But... I don’t know what happened, but I’m not the one hurting you. I’m never going to hurt you.”

Maybe he won’t, yet...

I point at the kitchen, where Ossa’s probably in. “ Are you going to sell the cat?’

“Huh? Sell the what?”

I’m going to say something more, but I can’t. My throat is tight as if I’m thrust into water and drowning.

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