01-24-2026, 04:27 AM
The dimples disappeared on Nika's face even though she kept up the smile. Liv had hurt her even though she didnt know how. She was trying to be respectful of reality- they only had a few dates, after all.No. Be honest. She was trying not to be unhappy. She was trying not to impose her own insecurities on Nika.
But once again, she screwed it up. Like always. Her heart dropped, but she couldn't leave it like this. She couldn't just....what, she didnt know. But what she was doing was the wrong course. She put on a friendlier smile and pushed down her own fears. "I don't know how you do it. Going that fast would terrify me." And then she couldn't help at smile at a memory. "One time, we went to Motherland and rode one of the faster rides. My brother forced me to go with him. I know they are inspected. I know that. But as we slammed this way and that, hang upside down, all I could imagine was a bolt or nut or some other part of the structure snapping or shearing or something."
She shook her head ruefully. She wasn't feigning her feelings. "I mean think about it. These workers look at the same thing every day. Sometimes, it's easy to gloss over what you are checking." She looked at Nika more pointedly, rethinking what she had said "I guess that's what happened huh? Going over equipment, making sure it is safe?
Suddenly, she thought again and looked at Nika more closely, her voice low and concerned. "You didn't get hurt, did you? Without thinking, her hand went to Nika's and touched her. For a moment an image flirted across her mind and her stomach twisted. Her voice a whisper, eyes pained, mouth turned down, "You did, didn't you. Oh Nika, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I made this all about me, she wanted to say. All about my feelings. When you were hurt.
But once again, she screwed it up. Like always. Her heart dropped, but she couldn't leave it like this. She couldn't just....what, she didnt know. But what she was doing was the wrong course. She put on a friendlier smile and pushed down her own fears. "I don't know how you do it. Going that fast would terrify me." And then she couldn't help at smile at a memory. "One time, we went to Motherland and rode one of the faster rides. My brother forced me to go with him. I know they are inspected. I know that. But as we slammed this way and that, hang upside down, all I could imagine was a bolt or nut or some other part of the structure snapping or shearing or something."
She shook her head ruefully. She wasn't feigning her feelings. "I mean think about it. These workers look at the same thing every day. Sometimes, it's easy to gloss over what you are checking." She looked at Nika more pointedly, rethinking what she had said "I guess that's what happened huh? Going over equipment, making sure it is safe?
Suddenly, she thought again and looked at Nika more closely, her voice low and concerned. "You didn't get hurt, did you? Without thinking, her hand went to Nika's and touched her. For a moment an image flirted across her mind and her stomach twisted. Her voice a whisper, eyes pained, mouth turned down, "You did, didn't you. Oh Nika, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I made this all about me, she wanted to say. All about my feelings. When you were hurt.