Hopeless For You by Hill Hayden

Author:Hill, Hayden [Hill, Hayden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-09-19T03:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Kade

Breathing hard, I watched Ash un-pitch the tent from where I sat with my back to the tree. Just getting out of the damn tent had me sweating from exertion and pain, but I'd told her I'd be able to walk on the leg and I'd just have to do it now, wouldn't I?

The rain had let up, at least. I was wearing my sweatpants instead of the jeans because the stretchable fabric fit more easily over the splints. It still hurt like a bitch when she'd dragged them on for me, though. I'd pulled on a v-necked T-shirt and tossed one of my sweaters over it. I was as snug as I could get, though I still felt cold.

When Ash finished packing the tent, she shrugged the backpack over her shoulders and crouched next to me. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I slung my arm over her neck. I managed to get my good leg underneath me, despite the fact that my whole body felt like one giant bruise, and Ash helped me stand. I put no pressure at all on my right leg and though Ash carried half my weight, it still felt like I was doing a one-legged squat. I grunted as I pushed out of the bottom position.

Near the top, I accidentally put weight on my bad leg and I felt a debilitating flash of agony. Ash compensated right away, pulling me sideways, and there it was—I was standing. For someone so small, she was pretty strong. Not only did she hold half my weight but she was carrying the backpack, too.

Both of us were breathing hard. I grinned at her. "It's like we're having sex."

She gave me her trademark eye roll.

Right then, the cloud cover parted, splashing the forest with sunlight. Around us, some of the water drops in the pines caught the light and I was reminded of diamonds. I felt rich, and in that moment I actually believed I could do anything with her at my side.

"Okay," Ash said. "Time for your first step."

She wrapped one arm tightly around my waist. The way her body pressed tightly against my side proved a welcome distraction from the pain. It was hard not to notice how neatly she fit under my arm.

I placed a little weight on my foot and winced. I grabbed at a nearby shrub, hoping to spread my weight around even more, but all I succeeded in doing was breaking branches. I kept telling myself I could do this but as we shuffled forward, the pain and nausea worsened, making my vision swim. If there was such a thing as self-inflicted torture, this was it.

Finally, my good knee buckled. Ash controlled the fall, helping me to the ground. The pain flared in my injured leg and I realized I was holding onto her like a lifeline, my fingers digging into her forearm. I unclenched my hand and took deep breaths, waiting for the agony to subside. I felt so sick, I actually dry-heaved a couple of times.

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