Page 42 of Protection for Rowan

"What about now?" She thought her question was reasonable, but Thario threw his head back, and laughter boomed around the room.

He wiped his face and shook his head. “That’s sweet of you to think that I have women wanting me. No one wants to have sex with me now. Not even pity fucks. Women aren’t attracted to men with wheels.”

Her heart hurt for him. Based on what he’d said about his past, women threw themselves at him. “So no one wants to date you now?”

“Nope. After a few harsh encounters, I gave up. It’s not worth being shot down when most of them get mean.”

“I’m sorry. That’s sad.”

“It’s okay. I’m happier now. Before, I’d wake up disgusted at myself. It wasn’t good at all.”

"And no one has set you up with a friend?" She didn't think setting people up was really a good idea. Too many friendships were ruined by playing matchmaker.

Thario shook his head. “No. I don’t want them to. It would make me feel weird.”

“I get that.”

Shine's body shook with a shiver. "Bad things happen when you're the one who sets up a couple, and things don't work out."

Thario made a face. “I remember Jack and Chrissy.”

“Ugh. That turned nasty.” Shine turned to Rowan. “Chrissy was set up with Jack. She stole some things from Jack and emptied one of his savings accounts. He got pissed and blamed the guy who set them up. Ended up fighting on base. The guy who set them up ended up at Jack’s house and shot out his front window.”

Rowan gasped. “Damn.”

Thario snorted. “Yeah, no kidding. It was very bad. Military guys have weapons. The dude ended up shot. Jack wasn’t in military housing, and the police were called out. It was terrible.”

“Wow, that’s…”

Shine shrugged. "Not all of those relationships end badly, but when they do, it's shockingly bad."

"Yeah, but not all end well, even when it's not so flashy. I'm happy not dating. I don't need anyone else in my life to be happy."

"That's good." Rowan tried to stifle her yawn, butexhaustion was getting her. Nothing in her life was normal, not her sleep schedule or her exhaustion level.

“We should go,” Shine said.

Rowan shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”

Thario chuckled. “Just admit you’re tired. It’s okay. You don’t have to go, but being tired after something so traumatic is normal.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know. I just don’t want to admit I’m human, I guess.”

Shine squeezed her leg. "You're the one who tells people how to take care of themselves. It's time you take care of yourself."

“You’re right. I’m being an asshole. I shouldn’t be a jerk about this. I just want life to go back to normal. This isn’t fair.”

Shine pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "No, it isn't fair. But life isn't fair. We like to think that if you try to be good, only good things will happen to you. It's not always the case."

She shrugged. “I know. I guess I’m tired and agitated. I need to get over what happened.”

Shine cupped her chin, so she had to look at him. “You know it’s not that easy. You wouldn’t tell your patients to get over it. Give it time.”

“You’re right. I would be mad at someone who was being so harsh to one of my clients.”

“You need to give yourself a break,” Shine said.

Thario sighed. “Yeah, give yourself a break. Trust me, you need one.”

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