Page 57 of Between Us

“This will be quick, but it might still hurt a little,” Adrian warns, a second before he slips an arm around me, the other under my knees, and lifts me in the air. I gasp in surprise and throw my arms around his neck. The sudden movement does cause a sharp pain to burst in my ankle, but it numbs to something more bearable by the time he’s standing at his full height. “You good?”

The low, concerned note to his voice sends a rush of heat through me. It’s not the safe, comforting warmth of his laugh. No, this is burning hot and settles right between my legs. Looking up at him, with an expression equivalent to a lovestruck fool, I slowly nod and, not so subtly, nuzzle closer into his chest.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Adrian

Followingthethreeboysinside, I pull Blake close to my chest, doing my best to not knock her foot around too much. She seems to think I don’t notice her staring at me since I scooped her off the ground, but she’s not exactly subtle either.

Trying to hide my smirk, I bite my lip and glance down at her. I think she’s in shock because she doesn’t even try to look away. “Blake?”

“Hm?” she murmurs.

“You good?” I gently ask for the second time and set her down on the couch.

“Yeah, I really am okay now,” she rasps. There’s a soft pink hue to her face, which is still slightly swollen from crying.

As a boy, I can appreciate a well thought out prank—especially one that goes horribly wrong. But as a man who feels desperately devoted to Blake, it sends a mix of emotions through me. Anger, frustration, concern, sympathy. I’d break my own ankle right now if it meant she’d stop wincing in pain every time she tries to get comfortable.

Without thinking about it, I lean forward and place a kiss on her temple. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Ew,” one of the young boys—the middle one, Shawn—yells. “Did you justkissher?”

Laughing under my breath, I feel relieved when Blake offers a small, genuine smile. “Hey, Mikey?” I call out.

His head pops between us from behind the coach. “Yeah?” he squeaks.

Poor kid.

“We need more ice.” He nods seriously and shoves his youngest brother toward the kitchen. I chuckle as the five-year-old almost trips as he scuttles around the corner.

“What else?” Mikey asks, seeming to know he’s in deep shit.

“Go get a big stack of pillows for her foot. And do you have one of those stretchy Ace wraps by chance?”

Quickly nodding, he grabs his other brother’s hand and runs down the hallway.

Watching the interaction with a rueful smile, Blake whispers, “I’m so sorry.”

“No, you have nothing to apologize for.” She opens her mouth to argue, but I run a hand down the back of her neck and continue first, “I would’ve been pissed if you called someone else—or worse,didn’tcall anyone. So don’t you dare be sorry. Although,” I add with a lighter tone, “maybe we should be concerned about how easily the three of them have accepted a strange man into their house.”

Laughing quietly, Blake’s smile turns more genuine. “You’re not a strange man. Besides, they were really worried. Mikey’s been a little prankster since he was old enough to walk, but he’s not ameankid. I think I’m the first person who’s ever been hurt in the crossfire.”

We hold eye contact as I reach to gently pull out the neon yellow scrunchie that’s barely holding any of her hair up. It cascades in dark waves down her shoulders, and I can’t help running my fingers through it. Relaxing further into the couch, she watches me quietly while we wait for the boys to get back with the materials.

A few minutes later, as we’re both starting to worry about Luke in the kitchen alone, he comes running out with a grocery bag full of ice. “Sorry,” he calls as he lugs it over with both arms wrapped wide to hold it. His little teeth are chattering from how cold it is. “I ha-had to get en-enough.”

Blake quietly snorts but covers it with a fake sneeze. I wink. “Don’t worry, buddy. You got plenty.”

He perks up and eagerly asks, “Buddy? Does that mean we’re friends?”

Grinning wide—both at how adorable he is and how Blake practically melts into the couch as she waits for my answer—I lean forward and ruffle his hair. “Yeah, I think we’ve all bonded after tonight.”

He nods sagely, making both of us chuckle again. “I think so.”

“Go get me a Ziplock bag and some paper towels, though.” He’s quicker this time and is back after only a minute.

Mikey and Shawn finally come barreling down the stairs. Neither of them stops in time so their sock clad feet slide straight by Blake. Scrambling like two cartoon characters, they pull themselves back and plop on the coffee table across from us.

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