Page 29 of Heart of Thorns
“You—”
“I thought you had school spirit,” I continue. “I heard you were on the hockey team?—”
Her expression turns mutinous. “Asking about me, Thorne?”
“You’re intriguing.” I shake my head and stand. “And…”
She rises, too. I resist the urge to reach out and touch her again. My skin didn’t crawl, and I don’t want to jinx it. What if it’s just a fluke? That sort of contact hasalwaysmade me feel like there were spiders creeping up my back.
But not her.
I could be delusional.
But I told my father’s investor I was in a serious relationship… There’s got to be a way to leverage this in her mind. Something she needs?
“What were you doing in here anyway?” I ask.
She scowls. Seems to be her default expression. “Nothing.”
“Nothing,” I repeat, skeptical. “No need to lie, Briar.”
She wraps her arms around her stomach but doesn’t go for the jersey I tossed away. She doesn’t try to get her hair back into a picture-perfect bun or any other sort of style. She didn’t flinch away from me seeing her shirtless…
Whoisthis girl?
“You heard I was on the hockey team,” she says quietly, “but did youhearwhy I’m not anymore?”
I cock my head. I haven’t heard, but apparently, a lot of other people on campus have. Do I just live under a rock?
Ihavebeen a little busy. My entire life revolves around football and dodging the dates my parents schedule for me.
“Tell me,” I say.
Her gaze moves past me, to the doorway, then back. I stand between her and her only escape. I don’t mean to be menacing, but I want answers. I shift, giving her a better line of sight to the door, and cross my arms.
She heaves a sigh. “Fine. I was working on a commissioned mural, and there was a fire, and I couldn’t get out on the first floor. The only way I could survive—” Her throat works. “I jumped out of the second-story window. Injured my knee pretty bad, basically ended my hockey career.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, imagining the scene she paints. Fire, smoke. Fear. Falling.
Pain.
I know a lot about pain. Especially knee pain.
Her reaction about my hand bursting in flames makes sense now. I’m a dick.
“Were you in here to use the equipment?”
She nods fast.
“You could get hurt if you do it the wrong way.” I frown. “I?—”
I just need to say it.
“I can help, if you want? I went through my own knee injury. So, I have experience.” I clear my throat. “It’s probably better than you struggling in here alone, especially if you’re prone to fainting.”
“I’m not.” Her cheeks flame. “I never faint.”
“Uh-huh.”