Redeemed (Dirty Air 4)

Ignoring the acid rolling in my stomach at making myself look any less of a man in front of Chloe, I put my left leg forward for balance and then fold my right leg. My prosthetic hits the grass at the same time as the palms of my hands. Transferring my body weight to my arms, I pull my legs forward and in front of me. It’s awkward and disjointed, with each second ticking by at a snail’s pace.

Chloe focuses on tickling Marko’s stomach. Her indifference fills me with a new wave of appreciation. It’s as if she knows what to do without me having to ask, and that’s something I’ve yet to experience around anyone. Not even my own family knows how to act when I take longer to do what used to be second nature.

Her tickling leaves Marko breathless and red in the face.

“He just ate, so unless you want him to become a vomit launcher, I’d stop.” I place my hands behind me as I take in the sunset reflecting off the lake.

Marko makes a bleh noise.

“Gross. We don’t want that.” She wrinkles her nose in the cutest way.

Marko abandons his spot in between us and runs around in circles, making retching noises between giggles.

“I’m curious. What made you want to take a walk in the park? I thought you didn’t leave your castle much.” She drags a finger underneath the bill of my cap, lifting it.

Her blue eyes darken as they focus on me licking my lips. Hmm. Maybe she does think about our kiss, too. “I wanted to make sure there weren’t any cats who needed rescuing.”

She drops her head back and laughs. “I didn’t hear any crying in the trees, so I think we are good.”

“That’s great. We can’t have you checking on them and falling again.”

“I wouldn’t have fallen if it weren’t f

or a big, brooding shadow of a man who scared me in the middle of the night.”

“It’s not every day I have a trespasser wanting to climb a tree on my property.”

She scoffs. “The fact that you have to specify what kind of trespasser you have speaks volumes.”

I shrug. “People are weird and invasive.”

“Maybe they’re interested in checking out if your house is haunted.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “What?”

Seriously, how can this girl not know I’m famous? I can’t remember the last time I’ve been completely anonymous. By the time I was eighteen, I already had over a hundred-thousand followers on my social media accounts.

“Your house. Have you seen it? It’s like Luigi’s Mansion but less fun.”

“Are you a Nintendo fan?”

“Are you not? Be careful how you answer. I might have to end this friendship before it has a real chance.”

Friendship? She’s got to be kidding me. I’m not about to get friend-zoned by a woman who kissed me like she might die without it. No way. Fuck that.

“Of course I like Nintendo. I grew up using Mario Kart as practice.”

“Practice for what?” Her brows scrunch together.

Shit. I ignore the urge to reveal my racing past. “For actual driving. What else?”

“I wouldn’t know. I never learned how to drive.”

“What? You don’t know how to drive?” I try to wrap my head around the concept. I’ve been driving karts since I was four years old.

“No! I grew up in New York. No one knows how to drive.”

“Whoa. That needs to be amended.”