Page 53 of Resist

“Put that away, you’ve already wasted money today.”

I shoved a one hundred dollar bill across the counter. “Don’t tell me what to do with my money.”

He gave the teller an awkward smile, gathered up my money, and handed her his credit card. “I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention,” he said, turning to me and taking my hand in his. Lucas uncurled my fingers and placed the bill in my palm. “I just want to buy your ticket.”

“But I can by my own.”

“I know that.”

His eyes were calm and kind, too kind. They subdued my anger like water would extinguish a flame.

“Fine,” I said, stretching past his shoulder to the donation box on the counter. I folded the note and popped it into the slot. “But I’m buying lunch.”

The teller’s eyes widened as she handed him the receipt.

“Deal. I wonder if they’ve got molluscs.”

I cracked up laughing as we continued to walk into the zoo grounds, past a giant crocodile statue. “You’re so frustrating, you know that?”

“Noah’s mentioned it a couple of times, but it’s Noah so I ignore him.”

“Well, you are.”

“Isthatthe reason why, because you know I can work on that?”

I turned to face him but swiveled too fast on my crutches and lost my footing, stumbling before he caught me.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his face a hair’s breadth from mine.

I nodded.

My breath caught as he leaned in slowly and kissed my lips, his tongue lightly sweeping the top row of my teeth, encouraging me to open my mouth. I obliged, for a second, before I realized what we were doing and where.

“Stop. Let me go.” I pushed him back.

“Why are you fighting this?”

“Because someone could see us.”

“Isthatthe reason?”

“YES!”

He ran his hand through his hair then snatched up a zoo map from a nearby stand. “Why does that matter?”

“Because I’m your boss,” I said through gritted teeth.

“So?”

“SO?” I grumbled and scooted past him. “So it means that you and I can’t go there.”

“So where can we go?”

“TO SEE SOME FUCKING ANIMALS!” I shouted, instantly covering my mouth with my hand when I realized I’d sworn.

A mother standing with her daughter nearby covered the little blonde girl’s ears and stared at me, her eyes wide and astonished.

I dropped my hand and mouthed, “I’m so sorry.”