Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(137)

“Was that so hard?” he asks.

“Yes.”

Ryan touches my hair again. It’s like he requires the      contact to confirm I’m not a ghost. “You need to learn how to start trusting      yourself.”

I flop down so that my head rests on the pillow beside him.      Ryan’s slow as he shifts. Our faces are so close that our noses almost touch. My      arm begins to ache and I have a feeling Scott will show soon because he’s timed      my pain med schedule into his phone. “Do you mind if I heal first before I      tackle any more long-lost resurfacing emotional issues?”

Ryan tilts his head and I silently swear. Apparently we’re      not done yet. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“Scott said Isaiah came to the hospital,” he begins.

I nod, preferring not to go into this now...or ever. Noah      visited me several times while I was in the hospital—once with Echo, and twice      on his own. He told me that Isaiah paced the waiting room until he heard I was      going to be okay, then he left. My best friend left.

“I think we should talk about it.”

The fingers of my left hand try to tighten, but the blast of      pain keeps me from making a fist. I hiss at the sting and Ryan edges closer.      “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I bite out. “It’s just...I already told you that it’s      not like that for me with him.”

“I believe you.”

My brow begins to lift and I stop when the stitches on my      forehead pull. Dammit, I’m never going to be able to move again. “Then why bring      it up?”

Ryan sucks in a breath and I can tell this conversation is      eating at him as much as it is me. “Are you going to see him again?”

No. Yes. “If he’ll let me. But he left the hospital without      talking to me. I don’t know what that means.” Screw that. “Yes, of course I’ll      see him again. Isaiah and I are friends and he’s going to realize that even if I      have to take a two-by-four to him.”

He looks torn between a smile and a sigh. “And you wonder      why I’m concerned.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ve got to admit, the life you lived in Louisville is      different than the one you have now. I’m scared that if you have a place to run,      a person to run to, when things get tough you’ll go.” Ryan stretches out the      fingers of my left hand that had begun to retighten. “There’s always going to be      someone doubting us, Beth, and I can’t be in this if you’re always running.”

“No more running. I promise.” It’s almost painful to step      past my pride to say the rest. “You were right...in Louisville...about me having      a life in Groveton. I have you...but I also have Scott and Lacy and school. I      like who I am here.”

“Me too,” he says as if proving his case.

“But Isaiah and I go back too far for me to abandon him. I’m      here. Heart. Soul. Body. Groveton’s my home, but I will never abandon a friend,      especially my best friend.” I stare at the comforter beneath us. “I need you to      be okay with it, because I’m not budging when it comes to him.”

After a few moments of silence, I risk a glance. Ryan      eventually caves. “Fine. He’s your friend. If you’re going to trust me, then I’m      going to trust you.”

I kick off my shoes and rub my toe against his foot. It’s      the best I can do with an arm in a sling. “Deal. I love you and...” I swallow my      fear and push through. “I trust you.”

“Good.” Ryan’s muscles visibly settle and his eyelids      flutter.

“Good,” I repeat, allowing myself to relax along with him.      “You know I want to hear it again.”

Ryan moves closer, wraps a protective arm around my waist,      and shuts his eyes. “I trust you.”

“Nice try.” I softly mock elbow him with my padded cast and      his chest moves as he chuckles. It feels so good to tease him again. “The other      thing. Say that.”

“I love you.”

Enjoying his warmth and strength, I melt into him and close      my own eyes. “Again.”

“I love you,” he whispers.

“Again.” But this time my mind drifts as I hear his soft      declaration. I mean to demand the words again, but then my head finds his chest.      His heart beats steadily in my ear and I have my answer. Both Ryan and I lose      ourselves in each other and sleep.