What the Heart Knows

“Don’t you think it’s amazing that the males carry the babies?” she asked.

“I think it sounds extremely painful.”

She elbowed him gently and rolled her eyes.

“I’m serious. I have nieces and nephews. I’ve seen a woman in labor. It’s no cake walk,” he said.

“But the end results are well worth it.”

“If you asked my sisters they’d agree, on most days.”

Her laughter rang out like a bell as she held her stomach.

“That’s so horrible!”

“But true. I love my nieces and nephews, but they can be a handful.”

“I can imagine. Are you close to your family?”

“Yes, it’s just me and my two sisters. Tanya is older, and Michelle is a few years younger. What about you?”

“I just have one brother named Leo, who’s older by four years.”

“Do you guys get along well?”

“Oh yeah, he’s the best brother a girl could ask for. I never remember him having a phase when he thought I was annoying or embarrassing.”

“Then you’re lucky. I ditched Michelle and Tanya every chance I got.”

He chuckled when she gasped and playfully nudged him once more with her elbow.

“If you keep accosting me with that sharp elbow of yours I’ll start expecting you to kiss the bruises you’re inflicting better.”

“Fresh.”

“But you like it.”

She pursed her lips and leaned back to look up at him with a twinkle in her eyes that made him want to melt. It’d been a long time since he felt like he belonged anywhere. It was a welcome change.

“You, wish.”

She accentuated each word before she stepped away, joining their hands. “Come on, we have plenty to see.”

****

Juni snuck a glance at the handsome man who sat beside her as they watched a short movie on penguins in the arctic. The black pants, black button down shirt, and a pair of black converse he wore were a stark contrast to the white blond hair that dipped down into his eye line. Oliver turned quite a few heads. His looks coupled with his quick humor and manners had her asking once more why he was single, and what he was doing here with her. She had little to no experience with men, and there was an almost dark aura that clung to Oliver. It made her wonder if he was more man than she could handle. Way to be dramatic, Juniper. You need to lay off the romance novels.

She’d vowed to enjoy life to the fullest. That meant not chickening out because she was intimidated by what she was feeling. Oliver made her feel like she was someone other than the shy, slightly socially awkward woman who’d spent most of her life convinced she’d be lucky to see thirty. With him she was a confident twenty-five year adept at the art of flirting, and used to being wanted, not pitied. That was always one of the worst parts about being sick, the look that clearly said, that poor girl, and constant handling with kid gloves.

It made it impossible for her to know if people were being sincere, or taking her on as some sort of charity case. Not to mention, sex was anything but enjoyable when the person laying down the pipe was afraid that too much activity would kill the woman beneath him. Her face heated with the remembered embarrassment of her last sexual encounter. It was why she was hesitant to tell Oliver the truth about her past. It would change the way he viewed her. With your scars, it’s not like you can hide it forever. She rubbed her hand over her chest and let out a sigh. They were only on their second date, so she had time.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Hmmh?”

“You were rubbing your chest. Are you okay?”

“Oh yeah.” She lowered her hands, mortified she’d been caught. “Nervous habit.”