Chapter 24 #2
“Hello, pumpkin.” A pause. “Are you packed?”
“You could say that.” I bite my lip, hoping he won’t detect the note of unease.
“What’s wrong?”
So much for hoping.
“Nothing is wrong, per se.”
“Do I need to come over and help you?” he teases. And then his voice drops after a brief pause. “Are you regretting saying yes to coming?”
Ugh. If he didn’t sound so resigned, I’d tell him yes right now. I’d tell him how nervous I am to be alone with him now that I know he’s staying in my little town with me. Now that I have no reason left to keep pushing him away.
“I’m fine, Bash. I’ll be ready to go in twenty minutes.” I hang up the phone.
The knob to my front door turns. Zara comes in, courtesy of her spare key.
“And here I thought the favor would be something difficult or inconvenient.” She fully enters without my permission, flopping onto my couch and coaxing Jasper to her lap from his spot on the floor.
“But all you need me to do is feed and cuddle with the cutest cat in the whole wide world. Is that a bow tie he’s wearing? How cute.”
“It would help if you watered my plants, too.”
“I will,” she says. “But I want all the details about your trip with Bash when you get back.”
Despite the invasion of privacy, I can’t help but crack a smile. “Thank you for reminding me again why I so badly need to stop telling you things.”
“Oh, stop. You love me and you’re going to miss me terribly once I move to my dorm.” Zara gets off the bed and heads for my closet. “Now, let’s find something hot for you to wear on your trip.”
I frown. “No, that’s not necessary. I’ve already chosen my outfits.”
“Let me guess…flare jeans and several cute tops. Maybe a jumpsuit, and about three to five jackets.”
My sister scares me sometimes. I cross my arms. “Fine. What would you suggest?”
Zara leads the way to my room and digs right into my closet, stopping to smirk at me over her shoulder before taking out a dress I hardly ever wear. It’s long-sleeved, emerald green, and tight on my body. “This. This is what you’re wearing to his fight.”
“I’ll be too overdressed,” I say, though I can’t deny the dress does look good on me. It’s modest enough to avoid drawing too much attention, but the color brings out my eyes and complements the rich tones in my skin.
Zara sighs. “Haven’t you ever been to a fight before?”
“No.”
“Exactly. So let me be your guide.”
“But I’ll be freezing.”
“Wear tights, obviously. Wool ones. This is the outfit. You can keep the rest of your regular clothes in that suitcase if you just promise me you’ll put this on for the big night.”
“Okay,” I say, mostly to get her to stop talking about the “big night.” Just thinking of Bash in that ring, trading punches, makes my stomach knot with unease. If he gets hurt, I don’t know if I can take it.
And that thought alarms me even more.
Zara beams. “It’s settled then.”
“Yep. Thanks, sis.” I try to smile as I pack the dress into my luggage. But the unease in my chest lingers, sharp and heavy.
The twenty minutes I promised Bash when we got off the phone pass way too fast, and before I know it, he’s pulling into my driveway.
“Ooh. Let me meet him!” Zara nudges past me to get to his car as he’s getting out.
I cross my arms. There’s no use stopping this from happening, so I might as well just introduce them. “Bash, this is my sister, Zara. Zara, this is Bash.”
They shake hands, and Bash gives her a genuine grin. “Nice to meet you. Romilly talks about you so much, I was starting to feel like we’re already friends.”
Zara giggles. “Oh, believe me. I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”
At that he arches a brow in my direction. “Oh, have you?”
I blush. “Okay, time to go. We don’t want to hit traffic.” I hug her. “Thank you again for staying with Jasper.”
“Anytime, sis. Anytime.” A twinkle enters her eye. “Have fun.” Zara waves goodbye from the porch with an annoying smirk on her lips as Bash lifts my suitcase with ease, closing the trunk once it’s inside.
And then we’re driving away. I risk a glance at him now that it’s just the two of us. He’s wearing a black hoodie with matching sweats, and his hair is messy in a way that makes me want to run my hands through the strands. I swallow. “Are you nervous?”
“For what?” His eyes connect with mine, awaking my butterfly tenants. “The fight?”
“Yeah.”
“No. I’m ready. I’ve been looking forward to this much too long.”
I can’t imagine how anyone could possibly look forward to getting hurt, but Bash bounces his knee with impatience, like there’s nothing he wants more than to get to Boston and begin his match.
“You look more nervous than I feel,” he offers. “Are you alright?” He looks at me again, this time with concern.
Of course I’m not alright, I want to say. I’m going to have to see you get hurt. But instead, the corner of my mouth lifts. “Your car isn’t going to randomly break down or anything, is it?”
At that he grins. “I’ll have you know, I took it to a mechanic yesterday. Got a great deal, too. I promise you’re in good hands.”