The Runner ➳ Narry (Book One)

Chapter Three

Just as I was about to stomp out, Niall grabbed my arm. Immediately, my heart started racing. I could feel his warm hand through my coat sleeve. I felt the heat rush to my face at his touch but I shook it off. 

"Wait," he said. I stopped halfway out of the door and looked at him with a death glare. "What happened to your wrist?" I saw as his facial expression was now soft, his eyes looking pained. 

The first thought that entered my mind was that he looked incredibly cute all concerned with his brow scrunched up like that. I felt confused. Never once had I looked at a guy and thought he was cute.

"I thought you wanted me to get out," I tried to pull my wrist back from his grip, but he held on, adjusting in his seat and unbuckling the safety belt. 

Leaning closer, he squinted his eyes at my bruised wrist. That man back at that house had a strong grip. 

He pushed my coat sleeve up to get a better look. I looked at it too, watching as a faint purple outline of a hand print began to form.

My face softened watching him as he turned my wrist over and traced his fingers over the bruise, leaving me in goosebumps and rosy cheeks. 

"What happened?" He asked again, looking up at me but still softly holding onto my arm.
We locked eyes for a moment. I watched as worry starting taking over his features. I lost my scowl all together and replaced it with a normal expression. 

"Just uh.." I started, not sure what to say. 

He raised an eyebrow at me, signalling he was waiting for an answer. I tried to get my dark, angry look back onto my face but I couldn't. I wanted so bad to tell this guy off for trying to get in my business, but I couldn't. 

"I got into a-" I started but stopped myself when I felt him leaning closer. My breath hitched in my throat, watching as his face came closer and closer to mine. 

I wanted to yell at him to back off, but I couldn't. It was like he took over all my emotions and flushed them down the drain.

His right arm still held onto me as he stretched his left across my body, leaning his whole figure pretty much onto my seat. The top of his head brushed just beside my chin, and I watched as he grabbed the handle of the open taxi door and started bringing his body back, closing it softly. He looked up at me as he retreated his left arm from the now closed door. His face was so close that I could feel his warm breath on my chin, making both our cheeks turn a bright red.

He quickly pulled his whole body back into his seat and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"It was getting cold in here," he spoke just above a whisper, taking interest in his thumbnail.
Something about this guy made the bright reddish pink stay glued to my cheeks. My breathing evened out again.

"Continue?" I heard him say in that smooth Irish accent of his.

"Oh, right," I started. "Umm.. just got into an argument."

He looked at me, cocking his head a bit and raising an eyebrow again.
"Oh. Okay," he said quietly. Something flashed through his eyes, but I couldn't tell what it was.

I squeezed my eyes shut again as the sharp pain returned. I cried out softly and bent over in my seat, clutching my side.

I felt Niall's hand on my back. 

"What is it?" 

I shook my head and sucked in a deep breath, leaning back and sitting up. I looked at him and shot a soft smile, trying to tell him I was okay. "Just drive me to the warehouse, please." 

His forehead creased in concern. His intriguing eyes traced from my face down to my side, pausing for a minute before gasping. He shot his hand up to the little light on the taxi roof and switched it on.