Subtle Endearment

5. Lesson Learned

Kira

"What did I run into?" I ask rubbing the outside area of my right arm. I hadn't dared to look at the damage, it would only make things worse. "The railing," Ian answers through gritted teeth. "You should've told me you needed a ride, Kira. What would you have done if someone tried to kidnap you?" He asks, his voice rising as he speaks.

"Died, I would've died," I answer flatly more to myself than to him. I can feel Ian's eyes on me as we drive through the lit city. Anger? Repulsion? Dissatisfaction? I can't tell what he's feeling toward my response since it's so dark. Still, his overwhelming presence makes itself known. "I'm really going to die if you don't keep your eyes on the road," I say meekly as I scoot towards the door.

***

"Thank you for getting me home safely, Mr. Dewan. I'll make sure to get home before it gets dark next time and call an Uber," I lie with my full chest. We had just arrived in the parking garage of the apartment and Ian had taken to lecturing me on the dangers of walking alone outside. He looked at me expectingly as he ended his little speech so I gave him what he wanted to hear.

"I'll be going now, thanks for the ride, again Mr. Dewan," I say flashing a bright smile before unbuckling my seatbelt. "Wait, let me help you clean your wound," Ian says adamantly. "No thanks, I can do it myself. I'm a big girl," I mock jokingly. "Kira I-" Ian begins again. "See you later," I respond, stepping out of the car.

As I take the first step I stumble a little as pain shoots up from my right thigh. I must have a bruise, I hadn't felt it on the ride here but it was certainly throbbing now. I awkwardly hold onto the side of the car shifting my weight off of the bruised leg. How am I supposed to tell Ian that I can't walk back to my apartment because the railing won? After I'd desperately tried to escape too.

The passenger window slowly rolls down revealing Ian who's leaning towards the open window. "Do you need help?" Ian asks a slight ring of amusement to his voice. "Yeah, a little bit," I mumble turning away. Before I know it Ian's scooped me up in his arms bridal style once again.

"Put me down, all I need is support. You don't need to carry me," I say as he begins walking to the apartment. "What if I want to carry you like this?" Ian whispers as we pass by the front desk. I side eye him as the words ease off his tongue. People are going to get the wrong idea if they see me like this. It's like you're trying to make my life harder than it already is. "I mean, it's easier to carry you like this, it's also quicker," he clarifies, his face scrunched up in regret.

As we enter the elevator he carefully lets me down. I move my arm which I had subconsciously had fixed around his neck as he'd carried me. I press the floor number and lay propped up against the corner of the elevator as it goes up. I hadn't seen anyone other than the manager in the lobby. Maybe I can make it to my room without anyone seeing me with the director.

"What room are you in?" Ian asks his arms crossed. He must be mad at my previous comment about carrying me. I must sound so ungrateful right now. "I'm in 327," I respond as the elevator opens to floor three. Ian wraps his arm around my waist and slings my arm over his neck. For a split second I think he's going to let me use him for support until he hoists me up once again as if I'm weightless.

The sound of a woman talking on the phone sounds from the outside of the elevator. Seated at the couch beside the elevator, a woman sits on the phone.

"You know I can't go, I have a department dinner planned for that day and there's no way I-" the woman cuts her conversation short as she recognizes Ian. "I'll call you later, Alyssa." The woman says staring, mesmerized by the scene. "327 would be this way," Ian says to himself completely ignoring the staring eyes of the woman as he carries me to the correct apartment room. I hand him the key and he opens the door.