AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I kneel down by her head, looking at her upside down. Pushing a strand of hair off her wrinkled-up forehead, I say, “Maybe you should sit out of tomorrow’s game.”
“No. Never. It would be like giving in to my parents and to everyone that this is stronger than I am.” Her body tightens at the thought. “But even more, it would be like giving in to my own fear.”
Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. “Resting doesn’t take away from your strength, you know? In fact, I hear it replenishes it.”
Luz frowns up at me. “Do you also think I’m being reckless? And that I should quit playing?”
I think about it carefully, and not just because her eyes clearly show that she’s close to directing her anger at me. Even then, I can’t lie to her.
“I just…” I pause, trying to find the right words. “I can’t physically take the pain away. And knowing you’re suffering really sucks.”
Luz bites her lower lip, which snags my attention for a second before she speaks. “That’s probably how my parents feel, huh? Except, funny enough, I don’t want to blow your ears off about it.”
I beam down at her. “It’s probably because of my devastating good looks.”
Her eyes narrow. “Annoying, but you’re right.”
Chuckling, I lean over to give her a quick upside-down kiss. But before I pull away entirely, she clasps my head in her freezing-cold wet hands, forcing me to kiss her for a moment longer. I’ve been sitting kind of sideways, with a leg tucked under my weight, and the position is so awkward I end up plunging my hands into the icy water to keep myself from collapsing on top of her.
I don’t mind freezing my hands off if it means I can kiss her properly. I tilt my head sideways so my chin doesn’t push against her nose. Pressing with my lips, I open her mouth. Her hands circle up to the back of my head, fingers threading through my hair. When I swipe my tongue against hers, Luz groans, and it echoes against the tiles all around us.
“Damn,” I say against her lips. “If you keep making sounds like that, we’re gonna get in trouble.”
Luz vibrates with laughter. “We definitely don’t want that. Help me up.”
After some finagling, we get her standing away from the tub and wrapped in a big towel while I work on draining it.
“Thank you.”
Bent over, I swivel to glance at her. “What for, specifically? I’ve been such a great boyfriend today overall, you know.”
Her lips twitch. “For worrying about me so much.”
“It’s in the job description.”
Then her arms wrap around me from behind. I try to turn, but she squeezes tighter. “Will you come watch me play tomorrow?”
I rub my hands up and down her arms, although I don’t know how much my own cold hands can warm her skin. “Only if you come to watch my game the day after.”
“Deal.”
“And every other game you can.”
She laughs a bit. “Also deal. But also, if you become my very own cheerleader too.”
“Buying the pompons already.”
I feel her kiss the middle of my back. “Infuriating, adorable boy.”
“How did you know my middle names?” This time she lets me turn around. I wrap the terry cloth around her frame tighter. “Let’s go get you changed. You have an important game tomorrow.”
Maybe she feels better already, because the smile reaches her eyes like none have all day. I vow to myself to do whatever I can to keep it on her face.
CHAPTER 36
LUZ
“Rodriguez.”
