Rough Beauty by Jen Talty

Author:Jen Talty [Talty, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twisted Page Press LLC
Published: 2019-12-03T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

“You’re the biggest kind of asshole,” Arizona said as she crashed through the bathroom door. “How fucking dare you put words in my mouth. Not to mention telling me what my facial expressions mean. You really don’t know me at all if that’s what you thought I was thinking. Because this face.” She pointed to herself. “Was thinking about how grateful she was to have a man like you as a boyfriend. I was humbled by what you must have gone through in the name of serving your country and defending your brothers and sisters-in-arms. Yes. I’m saddened by what happened to you. I’d be a heartless bitch if I didn’t feel some kind of pain for what happened to you, but pity? Are you fucking kidding me? That’s a worthless emotion, and I won’t allow it in my headspace ever again. It’s a waste of time and energy.” She poked him dead center in a scar that went from his throat to his navel. “Do you pity me and my peg leg?”

“No,” he said softly.

“Then why the hell would you think I felt sorry for you?” She took in a deep breath. Her lungs burned, and she’d given herself a slight headache by talking so fast.

“Because everyone does. They look at me and say things like, oh, it’s too bad because he’s got such a handsome face or make comments about my muscle definition and how much better they look under my clothing.”

“Have I ever said those things?”

“Well, no. But the way you touched me. Kissed the scars. It was…was…”

“Was what? Much like the way your hand caressed my ankle-less leg last night?”

“Ankle-less leg?” he questioned with a smirk before bursting out laughing.

“I don’t think this is funny.”

“Your word choice and description are fucking hilarious,” he said as he reached into the shower and twisted the knob. The water hit the tile, spraying on his arm. He closed the shower door and unhooked his jeans. “I look at you, and I see a strong, confident woman who knows exactly what she wants and goes after it, no matter what. I also don’t see your missing leg as anything like my scars.”

“I know what you went through is different, and when I have my prosthetic on, I don’t look much different. My stump isn’t even that weird-looking. I get it. I do.”

“Do you? Because going shirtless at the beach scares the kids, and wearing shorts is out of the question.”

“Which is why moving to Florida is a ridiculous idea,” she said with a smile, hoping her joke lightened the mood the way she intended.

And by the way he smiled, it did.

“I’d be lying if the scars didn’t shock me at first. I mean, I knew they were bad, I just didn’t know how bad.”

He waved his hand over his chest. “Now you know. And the rest of my body doesn’t get any better. The burns cover sixty percent, and I’m done having skin grafts, so this is as good as it gets.

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