Don't Let Me Break

by Kelsie Rae

“You’re a badass, Kate,” I add as Felix shifts the ambulance into park. “A prickly badass, but even prickly badasses are allowed to have bad days sometimes.”

Doesn’t make it okay for me to be attracted to her. She’s still young. Too young for a guy like me. A guy with my shitty baggage.

“You’re not the one who’s walking around with a woody thanks to your little show.”

“I was married for sixteen years, and I might’ve messed up on a lot of things, but there were a few things I did learn.” “Like what?” “Like sometimes, a woman’s eyes can say what her mouth refuses to.”

“Because you deserve a guy who understands there’s so much more to you than your diagnosis. And if he was willing to let you go once because of it, who’s to say he won’t do it again when things get rough?” He kisses my cheek, and my breath hitches. “You deserve more, Kate. A hell of a lot more.”

I shove her gently. “Go on, my little porcupine.” With a light laugh, she turns around and rushes toward the entrance, calling over her shoulder, “Okay, my little golden retriever.”

Does he have any idea? How freaking cute he is? How he somehow has a direct line to my ovaries––and probably every other girl’s ovaries on the planet? If he does, it isn’t fair. Then again, if he doesn’t, it’s almost worse.

With great power comes great responsibility. And man, this guy could easily have power over me.

“You gave me the opportunity to make sure you’re taken care of,” he counters. “And if you haven’t figured it out by now, let me make myself clear. I like taking care of you. I like knowing you’re okay. Knowing you’re happy, healthy, and able to be the best Kate you can be.”

“I’m gonna jerk off to the memory of how good you felt against me, praying one day you’ll like me enough to want the same thing. I want you, Kate. Physically, emotionally, intellectually. Sound okay to you, my prickly little porcupine?”

“Because a moment like this doesn’t come along every day, Kate. And neither does a girl like you.”

“Honestly? I thought it was pretty good. All guys should read romance.” I pull back, surprised. “Oh?” “Yeah. It’s literally a roadmap written by women, explaining exactly what a girl wants in her perfect guy.”

“You deserve the romance novel kind of love. The one where you can’t get enough, and you’re convinced a guy like that doesn’t exist in the real world when the truth is…”

Chop wood? Seriously. Who the hell chops wood these days? Sexy mountain men, that’s who.