Page 108 of Balance

This was actually a very dangerous place to be having this discussion—one of us was going to fall. It would probably be me.

“Do you like spending time with me too?” he asked, blinking down at me, and my chest twisted.

Whydid he have to have the worst timing? I’d never taken Miles to be the clingy type, but here we were. Despite that, my stomach fluttered under the weight of his stare.

Miles’s sweetness was different than the others, radiating both warmth and shy sincerity. However, as I was quickly learning, he was not as helpless as I’d previously assumed. Instead of me protecting him, he’d been the one to save me.

My gaze drifted to the scabbing mark on his face. It was so easy to get caught up in his eyes, or the usually comforting nature of his presence, that I’d almost forgotten. But here in the daylight, it looked even worse.

“Yes…” I answered, my mouth dry. “I like it too.” I just wished it wasn’t under these circumstances. “I’m sorry.”

There were much better places to hang out than being lost in the wilderness. Besides, we’d have been spending tons of time together if he hadn’t run off to begin with.

“Don’t worry about it.” Miles turned from me then, continuing his way down the incline. “It’s my fault anyway. When all this is over and we get back, I’m going to make you a chocolate cake so huge you’ll never be able to finish it.”

The man was underestimating my love for chocolate cake.

“Do you like cooking for me?” I asked.

“I do.” He glanced back at me. “You’re the only one who appreciates it.”

“Miles.” My own face warmed as his hand pulled on mine and my heart fluttered in nervousness. This wasn’t much of an offer, but maybe it would help make life easier for him. Maybe, even, it was something thatwecould do just to spend time together. “When we get back, can I cook with you?”

“What—” Miles let go of my hand, twisting to face me.

The motion threw him off balance. He shouted as his feet slipped in the gravel, and, before I could move, he’d fallen from my reach and tumbled the last fifteen feet down the incline.

“Miles!” My breath caught from fear. He landed on his side—blood staining the ground around him—and didn’t move. I rushed after him, stumbling and sliding on the gravel the rest of the way down the hill. At the bottom, I fell to my knees beside him.

“Miles!” My voice shook. He was turned away from me, and my terror rose. It was difficult to gasp out even the sound of his name. I was afraid to touch him.

There was so much blood, there was no way he survived this.

I’d killed him; and it was because I’d been trying to be nice. I would never be nice again.

Besides that, I’d known one of us would fall to our deaths, and I’d been right.

If I ever made it back to civilization, I would resume classes with Finn. I would do anything to understand my new power and save the lives of the remaining boys.

I would be sure to carry on Miles’s legacy and make sure everyone ate well.

“Goddamn it.” Miles shook as he rolled onto his back, clutching at his thigh. “Fuck my life!”

He was alive!

“Miles!” I covered my mouth, choking in relief. He was still alive, somehow! I wasn’t even sure how bad the wound was. His hands and clothing blocked most of it from sight.

But he was probably fine. “Miles, are you okay?”

“Damn it!” he cursed again, rolling onto his butt as he pulled his ankle to him.

“You’re cursing in English again.” I edged toward him, trying to keep my voice calm during this catastrophe. “You only do that when you’re really upset. Is there anything I can do?” I twisted my hands in front of me, longing to reach out to him, but afraid of making his pain even worse.

He had opened his mouth—probably to curse some more. He’d been doing that a lot lately—but then his attention snapped to me and he pursed his lips. His cheeks darkened. “I didn’t realize. I’m just really messed up right now.” He sighed, glaring pointedly at his leg. “None of this is your fault,” he emphasized. “It’s because of myfucking guides.”

What in the world did that mean?

But first, priorities. I glanced toward his leg. “Can I see?”