Fragile

Chapter 24 - Arguments & Zoo Day

"I didn't mean to shut you out. I just..." She exhaled, her fingers brushing against my forearm, like she was grounding herself. "Sometimes I get overwhelmed, and I don't know how to deal with it. And instead of talking, I just... shut down. It's not fair to you."

I swallowed, my throat tight. "No, it's not."

She nodded, knowing I was right. "I don't want to be like this with you. I don't want us to go to bed upset. I just... I don't always know how to talk about things when I'm feeling like this."

I sighed, my fingers brushing against her waist. "I get it, Ev. But I can't fix something if you don't tell me what's wrong."

She looked up at me, her eyes glistening in the dim light. "I know. I'll try. I promise."

I studied her for a moment before nodding, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Okay."

She nestled closer, her arms wrapping around me tightly, like she didn't want to let go. And just like that, the tension between us melted away.

Evelyn let out a small, tired laugh, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my back. "You're not gonna let this go, are you?"

I smirked, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Nope. You promised me a zoo date, and I'm cashing in."

She pulled back slightly, propping herself up on her elbow as she looked at me. "Alright, fine. We'll go to the zoo. But we're getting ice cream after."

I grinned. "Deal."

Evelyn rolled her eyes, but I caught the little smile playing at her lips. "Okay, so when? Riggs has been talking about wanting to see the penguins again."

I thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Saturday? Gives us time to plan and make a full day out of it."

She nodded. "Alright. We'll go Saturday. I'll grab the tickets tomorrow."

I tugged her back against me, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "See? Talking things out isn't so bad."

Evelyn groaned, playfully smacking my arm. "Don't push your luck, Williamson."

I laughed, holding her tighter. The weight that had been sitting on my chest all evening felt lighter now. We weren't perfect, but we were trying. And that was enough.

~   ~   ~

Saturdays used to be for training, for early-morning sessions that left my legs burning and my mind sharp. Now, they're for something entirely different. Something I never saw coming.

Riggs barrels down the hallway, already in his shoes—on the wrong feet, but I'm not picking that battle today. He's shouting about giraffes, which, according to him, are "long-necked aliens." Evelyn trails behind, sipping coffee, her scrubs traded for denim shorts and one of my old Arsenal hoodies. She's exhausted from a string of late shifts at the hospital, but she's here, and that's all that matters.

"Babe, you ready?" she asks, arching a brow as she watches me struggle with my knee brace.

"Almost," I mutter, adjusting the straps. It's been months since my ACL surgery, and while I'm halfway through recovery, it still pisses me off that I need the extra support. It's a reminder of what I can't do, of how far I still have to go.

"Can you even outrun a lion like that?" Riggs teases, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

I smirk. "Dunno, mate. You gonna test it for me?"