Page 118 of What We Break
I'd really like to get to know that version of the man. Is it going to take another medical emergency to get us there? Maybe I should trip and fall next time he's around, and he can bandage my skinned knee
"With Emma's mom," I say. "He was really gentle with her. I didn't expect that."
Reid's face softens. "That's who he is. Doesn't like people seeing it though."
"He cleaned her cuts while we worked on Emma. Talked her down. She was about to fall apart and he just... kept her steady."
"That's his thing. Taking care of people when they can't take care of themselves. He'd be an amazing Paramedic if it weren't for the whole talking to people thing." Reid takes my hand, tugs me toward thehouse. "He doesn't trust easy. Doesn't let people in. But when it matters, he shows up."
He showed that side of himself today, over and over. Blake stepping into traffic without hesitation. Putting himself between the road and us. Not even thinking about it. And then later—noticing I was cold before I did. The jacket settling over my shoulders, heavy and warm.
You're cold.Not a question. A fact. And then he fixed it. All of it was instinctive.
"I'm glad you got to see that side of him," Reid says. "He's worth knowing. When he lets you."
Why wouldn't he look at me when I tried to give him back his jacket? Just when I think we've started to connect, he pulls back.
I glance back at the workshop and the warm yellow light through the dusty window.
The gruff guy who won't make eye contact and the gentle one who cleaned glass from a stranger's palms—how are they the same person?
"Come on." Reid squeezes my hand. "You're freezing. And you have blood in your hair."
"I know."
"It's very sexy in a terrifying way."
"I'm going to shower."
"Good plan. I'll go after you." He steals a kiss, quick and warm. "Leave me some hot water."
"No promises."
The shower is heaven.
I stand under the spray until the water runs clear, scrubbing dried blood from my nail beds, the creases of my knuckles, the strands of hair near my temple. It takes longer than I expect. Head wounds really do bleed everywhere.
Things could have gone so badly today. We all got lucky. And thank God Reid was there. Working side by side with him felt so right. He's this happy, bouncy guy ninety percent of the time, but when someone's hurt, that switch flips. All that golden retriever energy goes focusedand steady, and it's fascinating. Like finding out the class clown moonlights as a surgeon.
We were good together. Really good. Like we'd been doing this side by side for years instead of months.
The water starts to cool. Oops. Reid's going to have to be quick. He's going to be grumpy about it, but I'm sure I can make it up to him.
God, I really want to make it up to him. I am so ready to have all of him. I honestly can't believe we've waited this long, but something always seemed to hold us back.
But tonight, I'm not letting anything come between us.
Reid's clothes are waiting on the counter—a soft t-shirt, a pair of sweats with a drawstring. He must have slipped in while I was washing my hair.
I pull them on and catch my reflection in the foggy mirror. The legs are about six inches too long, but the hips? Snug. Story of my life. My hair is doing that damp, frizzy thing it does when I don't have product, a mess of dark blonde waves, but whatever.
When I open the bathroom door, Reid is waiting in the hall.
"Better?" he asks.
"Human again."
He drops a kiss on my head as he passes. "My turn. Make yourself comfortable."
