Ruthless knight

Being as tender as possible, I unwind the plastic film.  “No one deserves to live in agony, Cole.” 

He snorts. “Says the girl who believes in Hell.” 

My eyes widen when I uncover the ink on his i

Like the rest of us, he got a butterfly…only his is three sizes smaller. Nearly invisible. And green. 

Next to the tiny butterfly, is a date. August 21^st, 2001.

Their—his—real birthday.  

“Green was his favorite color.” His laugh is bitter. “It was the only thing we had in common.” 

I have a feeling they had more in common than he’ll ever let himself acknowledge. 

I roll the plastic back around his bicep. “It’s your throwing arm.”

The fact that he chose to get it there of all places feels significant. 

That turmoil is back in his eyes. “Awfully perceptive of you, Bible Thumper.”  

Heart pounding, I brush my lips over his tattoo. “That’s because I see you, Colton.” 

He covers it up by making rude, hurtful remarks…but deep down, he’s grieving a vital part of himself he lost. 

Liam. 

I turn around, intending to give him his space, but his hand wraps around my wrist and he pulls me back to him. 

I expect him to get angry and lash out, but he doesn’t. 

He kisses me.