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I lean against the armrest of my sofa to even out our height. She dabs the cool, damp towel under my nostrils and then peers at the area to ensure it’s not still bleeding.
“Phi, you’re being dramatic. I’m fine.”
“I want to make sure nothing’s damaged.”
“I don’t give a fuck if it is.”
“I do. Ilikeyour face.”
Our eyes meet and something inside me warms up. That same kind of feeling I used to get all the time when Delphine and I were together. She’d throw herself in my arms, inhale my scent, and then pull back to look up at me with those pretty brown eyes of hers. I might’ve been composed on the outside, but on the inside, a funny warm feeling invaded my chest.
I hadn’t ever felt it before. I didn’t know what it was.
It’s no different now. As neither of us look away, the warmth intensifies. The throbbing pain in my jaw and sting in my nose barely exist. I’m much more interested in how close she’s standing, right in front of me. I could pull her into my lap if I wanted to, grab her by the hips and bring her up flush against me.
This close, I can see every last detail about her face. I can study her heart-shaped lips and think about how soft they feel, and notice the small beauty mark she has on her lower cheek that’s sometimes covered up by her make up. With such little space between us, I can look into her eyes and tell what color they really are—not just any brown, but a toffee kind of brown that’s darker from far away and a shade or two lighter up close, framed by her long lashes.
My hand itches to reach up and cup her face. Bring her lips to mine and kiss her.
If the flushed look about her is any indication, she shares my sentiments.
She inhales a soft yet audible breath before she blinks and then diverts her attention. She grabs my hand and begins cleaning off the blood.
“I’m sorry I hit you,” she says, her voice strained. “You’re right. I need to stop panicking. It happens before I can control it. He came from behind. I was on the stairs, but he yanked me backward. I panicked then too. It hits too close to home.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve been picking up everything fast.”
“Salvatore Mancino lying to make me feel better.” Her nose wrinkles and her lips curl into a slight smirk. One I want to kiss away.
“Not lying. I’d tell you if you sucked. You made me bleed, didn’t you? Consider it a win. C’mon, we’re going to practice at the range.”
I grab her hand and lead her toward the door. We head down to the underground parking garage. Delphine moves as if to go to one of the cars, but I tug on her hand and steer her toward my sports bike. She hesitates half a step back.
“Your bike?”
“You’ve ridden with me before.”
“A whole decade ago.”
“What’s the difference? I’m more experienced now.” I lift the second helmet off the seat and slip it over her head.
“People will see us. Have you forgotten this is supposed to be discreet?”
“Nobody’s going to see a thing. We’ll have our gear on. Here, put this jacket on. Tell me if it’s too big.”
Once we’re changed and in position on my bike, I check on her one last time from over my shoulder.
“You okay?”
She squeezes me tighter around the middle and I can feel her nod against my back.
We’re darting across the parking garage and onto the city streets within the next minute. The first time I ever took Delphine out for a ride on my sports bike, she practically latched onto me like a damn koala bear to a tree.
I was right in saying there’s no difference between then and now—as I speed down Northam’s manufacturing district, Delphine’s arms clench around my stomach and her body presses against my back. I don’t mind it. If anything, it makes me feel good. It’s a reminder she trusts me enough to give up control.
Something she doesn’t give up easily.
The manufacturing district falls behind us as we venture deeper into the big city. The farther into Northam you go, the more the many skyscrapers loom over you. You go far enough and they almost block out the sky itself.
