Taekook and the ECLIPSE

24 | To Stand In Our Way

I just listened, and reassured her every time I could get a word in: I wasn't disappointed, I wasn't mad, I wasn't hurt. She should concentrate on helping Yongjun get better. I passed on my "get well soon" to Yongjun, and promised to text her with every single detail from Forks High's generic graduation. Finally, I had to use my desperate need to study for finals to get off the phone.

Taehyung's patience was endless. He waited politely through the whole conversation, just playing with my
hair and smiling whenever I looked up. It was probably superficial to notice such things while I had so many more important things to think about, but his smile still knocked the breath out of me. He was so beautiful that it made it hard sometimes to think about anything else, hard to concentrate on Yongjun's troubles or Eun's apologies or hostile vampire armies. I was only human.

As soon as I hung up, I closed the gap between us to kiss him. He put his hands around my waist and lifted me onto the kitchen counter. I locked my arms around his neck and melted against his cold chest.

Too soon, as usual, he pulled away.

I felt my face slip into a pout. He laughed at my expression as he extricated himself from my arms and
legs. He leaned against the counter next to me and put one arm lightly around my shoulders.

"I know you think that I have some kind of perfect, unyielding self-control, but I've expressed to you that's not actually the case."

"I wish you didn't have control," I sighed.

And he sighed, too.

"After school tomorrow," he said, changing the subject, "I'm going hunting with Joon, Jin, and Rosé. Just for a few hours — we'll stay close. Jimin, Suga, and Hobi should be able to keep you safe."

"Ugh," I grumbled. Tomorrow was the first day of finals, and it was only a half-day. I had Calculus and History — the only two challenges in my line-up — so I'd have almost the whole day without him, and nothing to do but worry. "I hate being babysat."

"It's temporary," he promised.

"Suga will be bored. Hobi will make fun of me."

"They'll be on their best behavior."

"Right," I grumbled.

And then it occurred to me that I did have one option besides babysitters. "You know . . . I haven't been to La Push since the bonfire."

I watched his face carefully for any change in expression. His eyes tightened the tiniest bit.

"I'd be safe enough there," I reminded him.

He thought about it for a few seconds. "You're probably right." His face was calm, but just a little too smooth. I almost asked if he'd rather I stayed here, but then I thought of the ribbing Hobi would no doubt dish out, and I changed the subject.