Page 44 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

She was quiet.

“I haven’t seen you here before, so you weren’t keeping up with your visits.”

“We had a fundraiser to deal with.”

I folded my arms across my chest as she stared at the wall in front of her. “What about after that?”

“The placement program started, and Gem needed my help with the play. I got busy, and I felt fine.”

“Have you been keeping up with your stretches?”

She swung her stare to me, and I almost laughed at how defensive she was. “Obviously not. That’s why I’m here.” She braced her hands against the table and mumbled, “I can’t believe this.”

I motioned for her to let me help her onto her stomach. She toyed with her dress as I gripped her elbow and eased her into place.

“What can’t you believe?”

“That you’re the one working on my back. You were meant to be a carpenter.”

I ran my fingers along her spine and listened to her sharp intake of breath.

“I didn’t say I was a carpenter.”

“You didn’t say anything, Theo; that’s the point. This is the most we’ve ever spoken, except for all the times you’ve yelled at me.”

I brushed over the inflammation by her right shoulder blade. “I know.”

“So here’s where you clam back up again or tell me I’m a bad teacher.”

I folded my fingers over her graceful, slender neck and kneaded her pressure points. “I wasn’t going to do either of those things.”

“What were you going to do then?”

I could tell she was still trying to come across as upset, but it was hard for her to keep it up. She melted into my touch.

“Apologize. I was out of line.”

She was quiet as I worked my way from her neck to her spine, well aware of the fact that my hands were inches from her ass.

“You’re apologizing?”

“Yes.”

“To me?”

“There’s no one else here.”

“But, shouldn’t I apologize? I didn’t know about Kira’s mother, but if I knew–I should’ve been nicer.”

I tried to ignore the pang in my chest. I didn’t know if I’d ever stop missing Tash.

“I wouldn’t have wanted you to be. After the way I treated you, I deserved what I got.”

That sat with her for about a minute as I shifted around her, bracing my hands on the middle of her back. She made a noise like she was afraid of the pain she was about to feel.

“I’ll be gentle.”

“Is that what you always say before you push it in?”