Chapter 37 Kai
On Wednesday afternoon, the plan was for Tabby and I to work on our chemistry assignment.
I can’t help that I started driving out of town and toward Logan’s Point.
My subconscious obviously wants some adventure, and when the other option is collating our observations from today’s chemistry class, I think I made the right call.
No complaints from Tabitha, especially when I put on the latest episode of her favorite podcast. To be honest, Crime Spree’d has had a lot more prominence in my rotation lately. What can I say? I like my girl’s taste.
The car’s entertainment display screen pops up with a notification. “New Text Message: Jamie.”
I reach across and flick the notification off the screen.
“You don’t want to read it?” Tabby asks.
“Not when we’re listening to how they found the body.”
Tabby and I share guilt-ridden smiles. It’s weird how humans can find pleasure in hearing about other people’s pain.
On the winding drive through the mountains, my car windscreen wipers get a workout as the rain drizzles on and off.
I’m back in my Ashworth Academy Hawks hoodie, a pair of running shorts, and my beat up sneakers.
Across from me, Tabby is in her gym clothes.
She’s not happy about it being her only option.
When I brought up the fact I’d told her to pack a change of clothes, she told me to shut up.
Apparently I’m a broken record.
I pull the car to a stop on the side road, and Tabby gasps at the view of the valley. “Wow. That’s so pretty.”
I brush back her curls. “Is it? I hadn’t noticed.”
Her shoulders bunch higher and she giggles bashfully as I caress the side of her face.
“So, where are we?” she asks, pulling at the front of her zippered sweatshirt.
I point to the view out of my window. “Over there is where we hike.”
She leans toward me, looking up at the mountainside. “Looks kinda rocky.”
“Only in parts. You wanna give it a go?”
“It’s been raining.” She evaluates the mountainside, unsure. “Won’t it be slippery?”
I pinch her cheek. “Aw, are you chicken?”
She bats my hand away. “What part of me ever told you I was a daredevil?”
“Fair enough. But, hey, you’re not in your school skirt and blazer.”
“Does that automatically mean I need to scale a mountain?”
“Well, if you don’t want to hike,” I tease, “I guess we could go to a coffee shop and study instead.”
She gasps playfully, reaching to clutch the steering wheel. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I unlatch my seat belt and open my car door. “Come on. Let’s look around.”
She follows me out of the car. “Just a look, okay?”
I wait for her to round the car and then clasp her hand. “Just a look.”
Tabby yelps as a raindrop hits her nose and I reach behind her to pull the hood of her sweatshirt up. “Better?”
She pouts at me. “I don’t like rain.”
I kiss the tip of her nose. “But I bet you look cute, all wet.”
She pushes me back. “Stop it, you.”
I tug on her hand, laughing. “Come on, I’ll show you the hiking track.”
We walk across the road and make it into the clearing between the shrubbery. The trail is a mix of sand and gravel, lined with rocks and trees, which me and the guys used to pull ourselves up the incline.
“Nah-uh.” Tabby fidgets beside me, bundling her hands in her sleeves. “I can barely make it up the hill from Main Street to my house. This so isn’t my thing.”
“You also told me dancing isn’t your thing. But I saw you after your dance lesson. You were beaming.”
“The dance studio is on solid ground.”
I bat a hand and move away from the track. “You’re right. Let’s get out of here.”
Tabby stays put, crossing her arms and her hip juts out to the right. “And, what? Go home? No way.”
“No way?” I question. “What do you mean? You don’t want to do this.”
“And you’re just walking away?”
“I won’t force you up the mountain.”
Tabby groans and lunges up the track. “Guess I’m on my own.”
I race beside her, watching her form. “That was a quick turnaround.”
“I don’t want to drive home with you pouting.”
“Me? Pout?”
“You want to burn off energy. I don’t want you blaming me like I’m some wet blanket.”
I snigger at her hood that’s getting hit with rain drops. “No, you’re just my cute, wet girlfriend.”
She groans, pulling herself up the trail. “Ugh. I hate rain.”
Tabby’s adorable concentration radiates off her. Her arms strain as she pulls herself up, and finally her core is getting a proper workout.
Unable to help myself, I push past her, finally getting the adrenaline boost I’ve needed all day. Just as I’m about to turn around and send encouragement her way, a branch snaps and Tabby cries out.
Tabby feet slip and she skids down the dirt track, her hands pressed against the ground. As she yelps, I leap across rocks like my character in Shadow Quest and steady myself by her side.
I pull my arms around her, inspecting for any damage. “Tabby, are you okay?”
She groans, squeezing her hands shut. “I scraped my hands. Ouch. They hurt so bad.”
While hugging her from behind, I reach for her hands. “Let me see.”
“They sting, Kai.” She sucks in a hesitant breath. “I think they’re bleeding.”
I place my hands under hers and gently stroke them. “Sometimes it can feel worse than it really is.”
She groans. “I hate that this is your area of expertise.”
I flinch, taking my hands away from hers. It’s something her father would say about me.
Oh, crap on crap. I suspect Dr. Jones will tear me a new one after finding out about this. But, he’s been on my case for so long now, it’s hardly something new.
Crouching, I gingerly make my way around Tabitha’s huddled body and land in front of her.
Her eyes are red rimmed when they meet me. “I just meant, I hate how many times you’ve gotten hurt.”
I nod at her hands. “Will you let me see?”
She swallows the lump in her throat and unfurls her hands. There are minor scratches and knicks to her palms. A small trickle of blood runs along her ring finger. As I slowly turn her hand over, the source is a broken nail, cracked in the center and slightly pulled back.
“Oh crap, Tabby. I’m so sorry.”
Tears spring in her eyes. “Oh, yuck. It looks so gross.”
I press down on the broken nail, applying pressure, and she winces. “I know how much you love your manicures.”
She pouts. “I’m going to have to keep it bandaged for a month.”
I inspect the inside of her hands. “You might want to get some disinfectant spray to put on these. You got that at home?”
She sighs. “Yeah. We’ve got a well-stocked bathroom cupboard.”
I frown, watching her gloomy face. “I shouldn’t have pressured you into doing this.”
Her jaw rocks before she responds. “You didn’t pressure me. I wanted to prove myself.”
I lift her palms up and kiss them both gently. “But you don’t have to. I like you just the way you are. And now I’ve damaged you.”
She sucks in a breath, looking down at my shin. “You’re grazed too.”
I swipe a hand over the weeping gash on my leg. “No biggie. Done that plenty of times.” I point to a spot on my knee. “This scar is from wiping out on my skateboard.” I show her the twisted scar of my wrist. “Got this when I fractured my wrist.”
“Ouch. That sounds so painful.”
I tap on my shoulder. “I’ve got two scars on this shoulder from tumbling down the other side of this mountain.”
She lifts her hand, running a finger across the scar below my left eye. “I didn’t realize you had so many more than just this one.”
I capture her hand and give her fingertips a gentle peck. “We all get a little scratched up sometimes.”
She pouts, nodding.
I gently cup her hands in mine. “But this is different. I don’t care if I get banged up, but I care if you do. I’m sorry this happened.”
“It’s not your fault I’m a klutz.”
“It’s my fault anything bad happens to you. I told you I’d protect you, and I’m doing a bad job.”
She pushes herself forward and kisses me. “No, you’re not.”
“You’re bleeding.”
She sniggers. “Honestly, I’m more peeved at the trashed manicure.”
I smile at her attempt at humor. “Can I take you home now?”
She nods. “Yes, please.”
I scoop my arms under her and lift her up as I stand
Her arms shoot around my neck, and she cowers in my arms. “Is this safe? We still need to get down this incline.”
I peck her cheek. “I got you. I’m not letting anything else happen to you.”
She snuggles into me, burying her face in the nape of my neck. Okay, a guy could get used to this.
More careful than I’ve even been in my life, I sidestep down the hiking trail. I skid twice as the gravel gets under my sneakers. I hate the way it makes Tabby yelp and shudder.
“It’s okay, baby,” I whisper. “I got you.”
Her fingers grip the collar of my hoodie. “Don’t drop me, Kai. Don’t drop me.”
I rub a circle on her back as I keep her body pressed against mine. “I won’t. I promise.”
I get off the hiking trail and across to the car as the rain starts up again. When I set Tabby down in front of the passenger side door, she stops me from reaching for the handle. Lifting on her tippy-toes, she plants a soft and sweet kiss on me.
“I know you’ll protect me, Kai,” she whispers as raindrops fall onto her face. “I don’t think you’re dangerous.”
“I don’t think,” I admit. “Something inside me takes over. Almost like I can’t help it. Like it’s an itch that needs to be scratched.”
“You mean, to do something adventurous?”
“Yeah. I guess I wanted to share that with you.”
“Well, I appreciate that. But maybe I’m just not cut out for it.”
“Don’t say that. I just need to bring my eagerness down.”
She pouts. “Or just ditch me to hang with Jamie and the others instead.”
I cup her chin. “Why would I want to ditch you? Did you not see me ignore Jamie’s text message earlier?”
The pout curls into a smile. “Oh, I saw.”
I open her door. “Get in, beautiful. Last thing we need is you catching a cold.”
Tabby takes her seat inside the car, and she tears up again, looking at her damaged finger. “Oh, no.”
“What is it?”
She winces, looking up at me. “Now I have the same injury as Camila.”