The Protective Heart ✔️

10. Protecting her from her emptiness

It had been a week since I agreed to work out with Declan every morning. We mostly kept quiet with a little bit of small talk here and there. I knew that he was holding back and that he was scared to push me away again but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. How was it that I had become so shy around him? When I was with him, I was scared because I felt so exposed. I felt so naked around him. Every time he looked at me, it was like he was staring into my soul.

"You ok?" Declan's voice brought me out of my thoughts quickly. Too quickly. I forgot I was running on the treadmill and stopped all of a sudden at his voice. I went flying off the speeding mat, hitting my forehead on the hard floor.

"Ow!" I screamed. I rubbed my forehead and sat up slowly.

"Goldilocks!" He came running over from the speed bag and sat down next to me. I looked up and our eyes met, holding each other hostage. He broke our gaze to look at my forehead. He cringed, then stood up and walked out of the room. I followed him with my eyes until he was out of sight. I brought my hand back up to my forehead to touch where it hurt and then looked at my fingers.

Blood.

Just then, Declan walked back in and sat down next to me again. He set down the stuff he brought with him and then examined my forehead. He took the rubbing alcohol and put some on a cotton ball before bringing it to my forehead. I hissed in pain and I felt him flinch.

"Sorry." He said softly. I felt a blush cover my cheeks from realizing our closeness. He put the cotton ball down and then put a large band aid onto my forehead. I stared at him until he was done. He coughed weirdly like he was covering up a laugh. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"What?" I asked. He made that weird noise again before full out laughing.

"What the hell?!" I yelled before standing up and walking over to the mirror wall.

Oh my god.

I looked absolutely ridiculous. The bandaid literally took up almost my whole forehead. I hung my head in embarrassment as I turned around and let him laugh at me.

"I'm sorry, Goldi...Does it hurt?" He asked after he calmed his laughter. I glared at him for a moment before responding.

"Not too bad...thanks..." I mumbled. He nodded, then stood up and walked over to me.

"You wanna be done for today then?" He asked.

"Yeah, I think I've had enough for today." I replied, touching the bandaid as if it might magically be gone already.

Nope. Still there. Damn.

I sighed and then turned to leave when I felt his hand on my shoulder.

"Can we talk?" He asked. I turned around and furrowed my eyebrows.

"About what?"

"Well, I mean, I have another match this Friday...I'd like you to be there. If I bought tickets for you, Bridget and Bailey, would you come?" He asked as he scratched the back of his neck nervously. I stared at him for a moment, trying to decide what to do.

"Yeah, I guess." I said slowly.

"Really?!" He asked excitedly. I nodded and he opened his arms up and took a step towards me like he was going to hug me but then quickly turned around. I rose an eyebrow at his actions.