Page 104 of Marks of Rebellion
Great, she's worried about what he thinks about her.
"Still thinking," Tinker replies.
Vanessa plays with her food.
I reach under the table and slide my hand on her thigh, and she freezes. But I don't move my hand, and my heart beats quicker.
She doesn't look at me and continues to concentrate on her food.
I wish everyone would get up and leave so I could be alone with her. The longer we're not together, the more insane I feel. I can't divert my eyes from her, and after a bit, her lip trembles, and she blinks hard.
She scoots her chair back, picks her plate off the table, then scrapes and rinses it before putting it in the dishwasher. "I'm going to get some air."
Great. I made her uncomfortable.
Add another strike for the day.
Indecisiveness isn't something that generally plagues me. The debate about whether to follow her or not makes my head spin.
Now I need to apologize for touching her.
I take my plate to the sink and repeat her actions then go outside.
She's pacing the backyard.
"Flower," I say in my softest tone.
She stops and wipes her face but doesn't look at me.
I dismiss the fact that we are no longer together and wrap my arms around her. "I'd give anything for a reset of yesterday."
She sobs and nods into my chest.
Tightening my arms around her, I ignore the pain from her body pressing into my bruises. "Tell me how to make this right."
She looks up. "You still want me?"
"Yes. Of course. Why would you question that?"
"You told Tinker you were done with me."
That stupid conversation with Tinker.
That's not even his fault. It's yours.
"It was a bad choice of words. I'm sorry. I never stopped wanting you, Flower."
"I... I was going to tell you what you wanted to know."
I freeze. Surprised she changed her mind. "You were?"
"Yes. I don't want to put you in danger, but if you need me to tell you, I will." She scrunches her face and bites her lip.
"It's not to cause you any pain. But I have to understand it all so I'm able to protect you."
She slowly nods. "Okay. Can we ice your torso first though? I'm worried about it."
"If that's what you want, then my body is yours to tend to."
