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I run my eyes over her. She’s tiny; all soft curves wrapped in a pale pink ski jacket. Even though she’s about the size of a troll doll, she’s got her arms crossed, glaring up at me like she’s about to fight me.
“Hi,” I say, embarrassed. “Um. Sorry to barge in.” He ignores me and glances over my shoulder. “Eli. What is this?” His voice is calm and deep, with a smooth American accent. “It’s a girl.” Eli helps me out of my coat. “I know you’ve been up here a while, but surely you must have seen one before.”
“I can walk myself,” I mutter. “Did you learn recently? You’re not good at it.”
want a bit of his sunny happiness for myself.
It feels like there’s something missing. What if it’s her?”
Even though I keep buying more bookshelves, I can never keep up with my book-buying habit. It’s probably a diagnosable addiction at this point.
I actually kind of like the idea that he’s marked me up. There’s something so possessive about it.
“Look what a mess he made of your neck. What is he, a vampire?”
“When I’m done with this, if you give me your clothes, I’ll get the stains out.” “How do you know how to get blood out of clothes?” “I do this really odd thing, where I bleed out of my vagina for a week every month? I don’t know why, it’s weird. Now sit.”
“I’m not… good with people,” he starts. I relent a bit. “Oh, I don’t know. I think you’re better than you give yourself credit for. You have your charming moments.” He raises an eyebrow. “Really?” “No. They shouldn’t let you out in public.”
No. No way. It’s not possible. Our ex-girlfriend, Johanna, is standing just a few metres away, studying the window display of a sports shop. I guess I must have killed a bunch of kittens or something in a past life, because just as I’m staring at her, she glances up at me, her pale blue eyes meeting mine.
“For God’s sake, you wrestle with moose and wolves and trek through storms for a living, and you think you’re not strong enough to get your heart broken a few times?
I wouldn’t be scared of Cole if he came into my bedroom with a chainsaw. He’d probably just be building me a bedside cabinet, or something.
“Oh, hell, no. I can walk just fine.” He sighs, shoulders slumping. “Fine. Get your clothes on.” I blink. “That’s it? You’re not even gonna growl at me?” “There’s no point. You’d just follow me, anyway.” I pat his cheek. “Aw. Teddy. You’re really getting to know me.”
“Why are you so small?” “I shrank in the wash.”
“You always do the thing that keeps you safe,” he says gruffly. “Always. No exceptions. We will deal with the consequences after. You never jeopardise your safety just to make someone else happy.”
“Wait.” I grab his arm. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.” Cole frowns. “You hate when people stare at you in public. It scares you.” His scowl deepens. “You don’t need to be scared.”
