Chapter Four
Ω Blakely Ω
Hearing him groan when he first laid eyes on me was the reaction I was hoping for. I spent way too long trying to figure out what to wear and how to style my hair.
I know deep down he doesn’t care what I’m wearing. But I wanted to impress him.
“Gosh… We really don’t have to talk about me.” Bronx laughs uncomfortably.
“I want to hear about everything. After the one game, I didn’t hear anything from you. I wasn’t sure what happened,” I tell him.
It’s like he disappeared off the face of the Earth. Rumors filled the school, but I knew better than to listen to them.
Bronx rubs the back of his neck. “I didn’t talk to anyone besides Alex.
That game threw me for a complete loop…” He shakes his head.
“That game ended my life. Or so I thought at the time. I struggled a lot. I couldn’t handle it, so I stopped talking to everyone.
I even tried to stop talking to Alex, but he didn’t let me. ”
I wish I would’ve known. I would’ve tried to talk to him more instead of just letting him push me away.
“It feels like a fever dream. I don’t remember a lot of what happened after that with the surgeries and the physical therapy.
Alex kept me a float. I still don’t think he knows how much he helped me then.
He kept taking me to the fire station. It first started out by him telling me the paramedics that took me to the hospital would love to see how I was healing.
Then with the complaining I was doing, he said the paramedics would hate to know how much I was suffering.
If Alex knows how to do one thing, it’s how to be manipulative.
” Bronx laughs randomly. “We started to spend more time at the fire station. And well, you know me. I’m a sucker for praise.
I found myself wanting to do more physical therapy so I could start to go through the tests to be a paramedic.
Long story short, that’s where I am today.
A failed football superstar turned small town paramedic.
” There’s a hint of sadness in his voice, but he’s trying his best to mask it.
“You do a lot of good being a paramedic, though. I know you wanted to be in the NFL, but look at what you do now.” I reach over and take his hand.
I don’t stop myself from intertwining our fingers. My hand fits perfectly in his. He curls his fingers around my hand and squeezes. His palm is warm and rough against mine. And when he brushes his thumb against my hand, it’s soft… Almost like he’s not thinking about it.
But it brings back so many memories of us in high school sitting just like we’re sitting now.
“I know I’m doing good. It just kind of hurts having to admit to you that I failed at going big,” Bronx explains.
“I know, B. I know. But you didn’t fail. Something bad happened to you. You didn’t ask for it to happen. I don’t want you thinking that you disappointed me because of that.” I use my free hand and pull his face to look at me. “I know where that mind of yours goes.”
Bronx laughs. His laugh makes me feel warm and happy. I feel like I haven’t heard it in ages. “Isn’t that my line to you, butterfly?”
I smile. “I think everyone deserves to hear that no matter what they do or don’t do. They won’t disappoint that one person no matter what they do or don't do. That person for you, big guy, is me.” I kiss the tip of his nose.
Bronx’s cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink. I miss getting to make him blush.
“What about you, little butterfly?” His voice is deeper than usual.
Bronx turns in his chair, and before I know it his face is an inch away from mine. I’m staring deep into his pretty emerald green eyes. My heart skips a beat. Is he finally going to kiss me?
“What do you mean?” My voice barely comes out.
“Who’s your person that you know no matter what happens that you’ll never disappoint them?” His breath ghosts over my lips.
I feel hot.
His eyes drop to my lips before looking back at my eyes.
“Use your words for me, pretty girl,” he rumbles.
I bite back the giggle that threatens to escape. He can’t say it like that. I whimper softly.
“Good girl,” he praises before letting me go.
I’m frozen in place as he moves to his backdoor and opens it. “Are you coming?” he asks.
I blink at him. How does he just turn it on and off like that?