“All right,” Maverick simply states. “How are you feeling now, Clo?”
“Better. Like I said, I’m gonna be fine. Please don’t worry.”
Maverick exhales as Phoenix holds me tighter. “Well, I have to get going anyway. I know Alpha wants to run over some more details about the shit going on here. But Phoenix, you keep a closer eye on those alerts. Promise me!”
Phoenix rests his chin on my shoulder. “I swear. I won’t let either of you down again.”
Frowning, I turn my head to meet him before Maverick ends the call. “Good. Check in again soon. Have a good night,” he says, then ends the call.
Chapter Eleven
CLOVER
My forehead rests against Phoenix’s cheek as I close my eyes, letting out a long breath before I drop my cell into the sand. “I am so, so sorry,” I whisper, my hand sliding out to grab his tight.
His head pulls back, looking at me like he’s confused. “You’re sorry? Why?”
Slumping my shoulders, I twist a little in his lap. “Because I should have looked at the alert and made sure it was for my heart and not a glucose warning. This is on me. Completely. I was just, you know… in the moment.”
His hand comes up, cupping the side of my face, the gesture gentle and caring. “We both should have checked. We both know your watch alerts for multiple things. Now we know better, so we can be more aware of it if it happens again.”
Scrunching up my face, I let out a groan. “God, this is so annoying. Why can’t I just be normal?”
His face contorts, and it’s as if I have physically assaulted him. His hands shoot out, grabbing my hips, and I let out a small squeal at the strength he shows as he hoists me in one swift movement, lifting and turning me to face him. My legs instantly wrap around him, chest to chest, our faces merely inches apart while his hands move to grip either side of my face. My head is still a little woozy from my crash.
Or maybe it’s from being this close to Phoenix.
I can’t tell right now.
His eyes lock with mine, a steely determination set in them as he stares me down. “Don’t youevertalk to me like that again. Do you understand me?”
My breathing hitches as I continue to stare into his eyes,confused at what he’s talking about. “I-I don’t—”
“If you ever, and I meanever,talk negatively about yourself again, Clover. God help me!” The anger pouring from him resembles pure venom. The veins protruding from his neck tell me he isn’t joking. But all it does is make the corners of my lips turn up as I stare right back into those enraged blue eyes.
Slowly bringing my hand up, I trace the anger lines on his face, biting down on my bottom lip, trying to fight the urge to kiss him. He furrows his brows, clearly confused by my actions as he pulls back a little with a huff. “I’m serious, Clover,” he demands.
Smirking, my fingers continue tracing the lines of his face. “Oh, I can see that.”
He jerks back, his hand gripping my wrist, holding it in place. “I’m not trying to joke around here, Clover. You make a comment about wanting to be normal, and I’m trying to tell you that’s bullshit. You don’t need to be normal. Normal is boring. Normal’s overrated. What you are, Clover Cadell, is so muchbetterthan normal. You may think that the monitor on your arm is like some form of Kryptonite, but I don’t see it that way. I don’t seeyouthat way. I see you as this bright light in the darkness that is my life.” My breathing hitches, but he continues, “And those beeps? Those beeps that you think make you not normal, when I hear them, they tell me you’re here. With me. So, when I hear those beeps, Clover, all I hear… isyou. Nothing else… just the harmony ofyou.”
Well, shit.
Tears well in my eyes as I stare at him, my bottom lip quivering now.
He’s rendered me completely speechless.
I literallycan’ttalk.
My head is still feeling a little foggy, but honestly, it’s probably from the amazing words he just gave me. He weaklysmiles, leaning in, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead while I try to find some way to function again.
But I’m failing miserably.
So, he simply pulls back, smiles, then leans past me for his backpack. “Crackers?” he murmurs, pulling out the pack and opening them with one hand, then presses them into mine. “Slow. Just enough to top up the juice.”
God, this man can read me so well.
Letting out a stuttered breath, I nibble. One bite at a time. My body is starting to cooperate, but I still feel drained. It’s as though I ran a marathon in the middle of a panic attack. I rest my forehead against his shoulder, closing my eyes just for a second, needing a moment to compose myself. Not only from the crash, but from him and the way he’s making me dizzy.
