Saving Boston (Rewritten)

Lemond Scented Disinfectant Wipes

When the streetlights cast through the windshield, I could see her face. Her cheek rested on my thigh as little snores left her lips. It didn't matter how often I expressed my concerns to Bo; she would fall asleep with her head resting on my lap while I drove. To soothe my nerves, I would run my fingers through her hair. I knew if anything happened, I would protect her at all costs.

The words John said continuously played in my head. They distracted me enough to miss my exit twice. How could I not treat her differently? I ripped her heart out and watched everyone kick it around. When I promised to be different, I hurt her worst.

I didn't know she would fall in love with me, though. I never thought she would talk to me, and the moment she showed up to school with homemade blueberry muffins in a paper brown bag to make sure I ate breakfast that morning was insanity. Things might have been different if I knew then what I know now.

Maybe it wasn't her sleeping with Luke that hurt me because I did the same thing with different women. Perhaps I hated the idea of someone proving to Bo there was more out there for her than me. It is why I gave him shit in class and snapped at him every chance I got. Before I knew what happened with Warren, I couldn't understand why she wouldn't want a clean-cut boy who played on the football team like him. Until this day, I will continue asking why me.

I never wanted to give myself to someone. When people asked me to get better, I didn't have a reason, and I sure as fuck didn't feel like I needed to. I felt comfortable being the piece of shit everyone made me out to be.

Then I saw her at the front door of John's gym, and for the first time since my dad, I felt scared. The girl I struggled to forget about from that party years back was standing in front of me, and suddenly, I hated everything about myself. How could I erase the past? How could I be good enough for her to want me around? Bo has made me question every little fucking thing in my life and -

"Kinnick," her voice silenced the ones in my head.

My fingers brushed the curls away from her face. "Are you okay?"

"Mhm," her little hum filled my truck. "Are we almost home?"

"I am pulling in now, baby."

"What if I am too tired to walk?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think I can walk inside."

"You thought I was going to let you?" I pulled into my parking space. "I already planned on carrying you in, Bo."

"Really?" Her face turned to look up at me.

My lips slowly started curving upright. "Really."

Instead of allowing me to carry her in my arms, she asked me to climb onto my back. Her head rested against my shoulder as I firmly gripped her thighs. With the exhaustion she felt, I feared she would fall. After promising to keep her legs around me, she fell asleep again. As she did every time, her body went limp against me.

As the elevator doors separated, I walked her to the bedroom. She didn't hesitate to curl into the sheets. The muscles in my body told me to climb in next to her, but I couldn't let Bo fall asleep without eating again.

While I prepared spaghetti for the curly-haired girl, I started cleaning up around the apartment. I knew Bo would wake up thinking she had to clean, but I wanted her to rest, so I did it for her. From wiping down the counters with her favorite lemon-scented cleaner to starting a new load of laundry with the scent boosters she used too much of, I tried to do everything similar.

"What are you doing?"

As I rested a washrag over my shoulder, I saw Bo leaning against the doorway. "I am making dinner."

"Aren't you tired?" I watched her expression change.

"I am fine."

"I'll finish cooking," her head moved back and forth. "Go take a shower."

"Bo -"

"I wasn't asking, Kinnick," she pointed toward the hallway. "Go take a shower."

My teeth sunk into my bottom lip as I watched her with amusement. "You are being quite bossy, Miss Bennett."

"Only because you are so stubborn, Kinnick Carson."

I stepped toward her, letting my fingers grip her hip. "How about I finish cooking, and we can take a shower together?"

Her face screwed up in disgust, making me wonder if I should let her cook instead. "Were you using the lemon cleaner?"

"I knew you liked it."

The expression on her face lifted as she looked up at me with pure happiness. "How?"

"Because my apartment didn't start smelling like lemons until you moved in," I chuckled. "Plus, the top item on every grocery list you ever gave me was lemon-scented disinfectant wipes."

A giggle left her lips as she rested her forehead against my bare chest. "I didn't realize I did that."

"That is the thing," I kissed the top of her head. "I notice everything about you, Bo."

Her arms tightened around my waist. "I love you."

The amount of air entering my lungs made them burn. "Really?"

She pulled away from me. "Of course."

"I love you," my palm cupped her cheek. "More than I think you'll ever know."

"If you loved me, you would take a shower so I could cook you dinner."

A rumble of laughter emitted from my mouth. "Way to ruin a sentimental moment."

"It would have been sentimental if you didn't stink."

"I stink?" I lifted my elbow to shove my armpit in her face. "Are you sure?"

She shoved away from me. "You are disgusting!"

"Get a good whiff, baby!"

Her hands pressed against my chest. "You need serious help."

"I'll be out soon," I kissed the top of her head once more.

Before I could leave the room, her voice called out for me. "Did you buy cheese?"

"Did I buy cheese?" I scoffed in disbelief. "I fucking stocked my whole shelf in the fridge because I know you can't eat spaghetti without it."

She struggled to fight her smile. "You have my heart."

"And I will always keep it safe."

Her pinky raised into the air. "Promise?"

"I pinky promise."