Read One to Keep (One to Hold) for Free Online Page B

chest. I tried to think of something comforting to say, lying in the dark, smoothing her hair off her face, but only one thought was circling in my mind. It was stupid, and I said it anyway, softly, like a mantra. “Bee stings… needles… rope burns…”
    “What?” Her voice was quiet, weary.
    “When Stuart and I were kids we played this game. If one of us got hurt, we’d try and name things that hurt worse. It’s stupid brother shit.”
    Tears were in her cracked whisper. “Nothing hurt like losing Blake.”
    My arms tightened around her, and I kissed the top of her head. “I know.” My hand continued moving up and down her back. “Nothing kicks the shit out of you like love.”
    After that, I only held her. She didn’t shake or jerk anymore with sobs, but I could tell she was still crying. I didn’t know how much time passed before she stopped. I was struggling with sleep myself when she spoke again.
    “This doesn’t change anything.” Her voice sounded like sleep, and my arms were still around her skinny body. I remembered the pizza I was supposed to buy her.
    “Right,” I said. “No strings. Just friends.”
    Then I thought of my kid sister Amy dealing with all Kenny had faced and being alone in some guy’s bed. I would hope he wouldn’t be a dickhead.
    “You’re safe here,” I added. “Just sleep now.”
    In less than a minute, we were both out.
    * * *
    My eyes opened, and I was alone. Sitting up, I whipped the sheets back and grabbed my jeans off the chair before making my way down the hall to the kitchen. Where was she? Had she left?
    “Kenny?”
    “In the kitchen,” she answered, and I saw her as I rounded the corner. She sat on the counter sipping coffee from a mug, looking even younger with no makeup and wearing my too-big shirt over her jeans. “I’m keeping this, by the way. It smells good—like you.”
    I shrugged, going over to lean beside her. “Sure.”
    She lowered her leg and hopped down, crossing the space to put her mug in the sink. I only watched her, wondering what to say. I didn’t want to apologize—I wasn’t sorry for what happened between us—but I wanted to know she was okay.
    “I called a cab,” she said. “It should be here any minute.”
    “Why did you do that? I’ll drive you home.”
    “It’s better this way.” She returned to where I stood, pushing me back and leaning against my chest. Damn she was short without her stilts. I put my arms around her.
    “You’re good in bed.” She said it like she was reading a weather report.
    “So are you.”
    “If things were different, we’d definitely start dating now.”
    “But I thought—”
    “And it would be a huge mistake, because we’d end up being each other’s rebound person, and it would completely screw up this beautiful thing we’ve got here.” She waved a finger back and forth between us.
    My eyebrow cocked. “What do we have?”
    “You helped me.” A bony hip pushed against mine. Then her voice softened. “Thanks for that.”
    The forty-eight hours we’d known each other flew through my mind, from the first shot of those blue eyes to the dimple, the tattoo, last night in the car, her sleeping in my arms. I slid a dark lock off her cheek. “I hope I did.”
    “I put my number in your phone,” she continued, stepping out of my arms. “Keep in touch, okay? Just as friends.”
    I nodded. “Are you feeling better today?”
    “No. But I feel different.”
    I was going to say more, but the loud honking of the taxi horn broke up the moment. She reached down and grabbed her blue suede shoes then quickly stepped back to kiss my cheek before turning and dashing to the door. “You’re a great guy, Patrick. Don’t change because some stupid bitch screwed you over.”
    A smile crossed my lips. “And it’s okay for you to start living again.”
    She nodded and made an air-kiss before heading out. I stood there thinking about what had happened. Dangerously sweet.
    Picking up my phone, I