"I'm not sure I like this," he grumbles.
"That's shocking because you've been doing a lot of exercises by yourself that you shouldn't even be doing yet," I shoot back at him.
"I wasn't on about that," he states. "I don't like when you're being all professional with me."
His frown seems to pull at something inside my chest, and I feel a small amount of guilt slither through my body.
"Besides, these exercises are pretty pointless considering I was literally walking in here earlier with a little bit of help."
"You done what?" I turn to him with wide eyes. "You definitely shouldn't be trying to do that yet! You could seriously hurt yourself, Jaylen."
He smirks at me.
"You worried about me, darling?"
I huff and shake my head.
"You're relentless."
"I'm just trying to get to the truth about why you stopped our kiss yesterday and why you've been avoiding me since," he says, sitting up in his bed.
He rolls his wrists, stretches his arms out, lifts them up and bends them again.
"Full range of motion, and no pain doing it," he states. "I can do the same with my legs if I really have to.Orwe could get to the important topic at hand and talk about you being worried that I'm going to get hurt if you let yourself feel something for me."
"Are you always this perceptive?"
"Yes, and it's as annoying for me as it is for other people sometimes. Now, don't try and change the subject. Talk to me Rory." His gaze burns into mine, and his hand locks around my wrist, gently tugging me towards his bed. "Please."
The softness of his voice breaks through my defences and my shoulders slump in defeat.
"I was telling the truth when I said I was worried about my job," I tell him. "But you're right in saying that isn't the only reason I'm afraid of getting closer to you."
"Care to elaborate for me?"
"I'm scared, Jaylen."
"Scared of what?" he asks, interlocking our fingers and squeezing my hand.
"Everything," I mutter. "I'm afraid of you getting hurt. I'm scared of myself getting hurt. I have a gut feeling that something terrible is bound to happen if we continue the way we are, and I would never forgive myself if I was the reason you ended up hurt or in trouble."
He reaches forward, cupping my face between his hands, and his thumb gently strokes my cheek.
"Personally, I think you're worrying over nothing, but your feelings are valid and if you want to take a step back then I respect that." When my eyes connect with his, he smiles. "One thing I can guarantee you right now though, is that you won't get hurt. Not by me, or anyone else."
"You can't know that for sure."
"Yes, I can, because I won't let anything bad happen to you ever again, Rory."
My heart is in my throat, and tears are threatening to drip from my eyes.
"You don't always have to be in protective mode, you know?"
"I don't really know how to turn it off," he says, chuckling.
I place my hand against his and gently pull them away from my face, keeping hold of them as I place them on the bed between us.
"I don't want or need you to be a protector for me, Jaylen. I can look after myself just fine."
