Page 21 of Beyond Repair, Part One (Damaged Duet #1)

Kai

M y laughter dies a slow death the longer Nina doesn't come out of the bathroom. It's been almost ten minutes. The first seven, I figured she needed to do other stuff in there, but now I'm not so sure.

"Should I go check on her?" Ridge murmurs, looking uncomfortable at the idea of disrupting her privacy. Like we aren't disrupting it by showing up unannounced two days in a row.

"I'll do it," I say and only hesitate for a second before I'm walking down the hall. I tap two knuckles softly on the bathroom door so as not to scare her. "Nina?"

Nothing.

Glancing back toward the other three, Trevor looks ready to kick the door down. I hold up a finger in hopes of taming the beast. Henry might have been better for this job, but I need her to know I'm here and she can count on me too.

"Are you okay in there?" I call out again. No answer.

I wanted to chase her when she ran to the bathroom in her big sweatshirt and bare legs on display. Now, I really fucking wish I would have. Hoping the door is unlocked, I grab the handle.

"I'm coming in." The knob turns and with a small push, it opens, shocking the shit out of me. "Neen?"

Fuck, I hate pushing her boundaries, but why the hell isn't she responding?

The first thing I notice when I step into the bathroom is the scent of roses. Breathing in like an addict, my energy boosts. Then I find Nina with her hands on the countertop and her head hung.

"Flora?" My voice is thick with worry, and when the nickname I gave her when we were kids slips out, I almost cry. What I wouldn't give for her to call me ? —

" Fauna..." Nina's reply is nothing but a puff of air and still it blows me away.

"I-I missed that." What a lame thing to say. "I missed you ." I don't get a verbal response, but her body seems to droop even more. "What are you doing in here? I was getting worried."

"That's the problem." Shocked by yet another statement from her, I blink with my mouth hanging open. She continues. "I don't want you to worry."

A humorless laugh escapes me. "That's all we've ever done when it comes to you.

I remember worrying about you from the moment I met you.

Hell, every time I pitched you a baseball, I was terrified I would hit you.

Or, Christ, you could have lost your balance and stubbed your toe at any given second. "

I let my eyes scan her from head to toe. What I don't expect to see is a wicked scar on her calf. My entire body tenses and my jaw cracks. What the fuck happened there?! It looks like something took a chunk out of her leg.

Nina's tiny voice breaks me out of my murderous stare down with her leg. "This is different."

If my tone drops a few octaves, it's because I'm fucking pissed. "No, Nina. It's just stronger now. I've always worried about you and I always will. You're the flora to my fauna."

She sighs and turns around. I try not to react to the obvious exhaustion on her face, but I can't resist stepping forward. "Why are you guys here, Kai?"

I frown. "Why wouldn't we be here?"

Dropping her eyes, she shakes her head. "I don't know what you want from me. I have nothing to give."

"That's not true," I state adamantly, wishing like hell I could hug her.

Just the fact that she's holding a conversation with me has my heart pounding.

Is she more comfortable with only one of us at a time?

That's not going to work well. Henry, Trev, Ridge and I are a package deal.

Nina too. We just have to prove it to her.

"Come on." I add some cheer to my tone and back out of the bathroom. "I'll show you what we want from you."

Eyeing me like I could be a predator, she side steps me and exits. I watch in satisfaction as she blushes up at Henry when she realizes he was right outside the bathroom the whole time.

"Hi, pretty girl," my fiancé greets her with a soft smile.

"Hi," she whispers while shifting on her bare feet and wringing her hands together.

Henry's smile widens and instead of heeding any of the warnings we've received, he reaches out, then takes hold of one of her hands. She gasps. Hell, I fucking gasp and gape at them as she allows him to lead her toward the kitchen.

"Here," he beams and guides her to a stool at the island. "Trev's making grilled cheese with ham and seasoned fries. I brought tartar sauce."

Like a deer in the headlights, Nina blinks at him.

Then Trevor swoops in with a fry. "Open, baby." She does without a second thought. "Crispy enough?"

I swear I see a happy little smile ghosting over her lips when she nods. Maybe, just maybe, we can be what she needs.