Page 36 of The Nicest Thing
"The one you saved from hitting me."
"I wouldn't say that."
Rose's frown deepened."Show me."
"I don't—"
"Finn."
Giving up the fight, I held out my hand.Rose gently pried open my fingers then gasped.
"It's nothing," I said.
"There's a blue circle on your palm."
I shrugged.
"Did you do anything for it?Ice?Compression?"
"No, but it'll heal on its own."
"Stay here," she said then got up and walked to the door.
"Rose," I began, but she cut me off with a look.
"Stay right there, Finn O'Brien.I'll be back."
Minutes later, we were sitting on my bed across from each other.Rose gently ran an ice cube over my palm.Her head wasbent, intent on her work, while I tried to control my breathing.She smelled so good.She always did.With us close like this, I couldn't help but breathe her in.
"For the smartest person I know," she said, "you can be kinda stupid sometimes."
I grinned at that.
"Why didn't you treat it, Finn?"
"I was waiting for you to do it," I joked, but she only cracked a small smile.
Setting aside the ice, Rose lifted my hand and gently began wrapping it with practiced motions.
"Where'd you learn to do that?"
"Grandma Rose," she said, giving me a real smile this time."I was accident prone, and my cousins liked getting into fights when they were younger."
"Sounds like Dex," I said.
"Yeah, they'd probably love your brother."
"What about me?"
Rose glanced up into my eyes then back down with a scoff."They'd hate you on sight."
My scowl was instant."Why?"
"Because of how close we are," she said and threw me a bright smile."They'd assume we're together, like couple together.They'd officially think it was their duty to crush you."
"I'm not scared, Rose."
"Hmm, maybe you should be."
