Wreck Me by J.L. Mac

know if it can be fixed. Even if it can be fixed I can’t afford to pay for repairs right now.
    “My watch,” I say weakly through tears. He reaches out and takes my wrist in his. He examines the watch for a moment then I know it must be broken because his face goes blank. Fuck my life. He releases the delicate clasp and examines the watch closer. He flips it over. Sometimes I forget about the inscription on the underside of the watch. It says “Collette, my heart resides with you forevermore.” It’s in French and even though my French is rusty I can still read it and speak it decently. Damon looks at me and pity fills his eyes. I know the look. I hate that look but somehow coming from him doesn’t quite feel like pity. It feels like understanding and I let it go. My mother’s ruined watch is my only concern at the moment.
    “What does it say?” he asks on a whisper.
    “Collette, my heart resides with you forevermore,” I say weakly while tears continue slipping down my cheeks. He nods and looks to me.
    “What did you say your last name was again I will have this fixed. They will need to know the name of the owner.”
    “Geroux. My full name is Josephine Lisette Geroux.”
    “I’m going to make this right. I promise you, Josephine.” I don’t bother correcting him about my name. I am completely entranced by the sincerity and emotion written across his features. He reaches behind me and enfolds me in a plush towel. He slings one around his waist and leads me back to his bedroom. I glance at the clock on his nightstand and it reads 12:26 am. How in the hell have I been with him for over six hours already? He peels back the comforter on his sinfully comfortable bed and says nothing as he lifts me beneath my arms to place me on the mattress. I don’t protest. I have no fight tonight. I feel beaten down by the day I have endured. Damon slips into the bed beside me and tugs me too him. I lay my head on his shoulder and cry. I allow myself a measure of self-pity for my shitty day. Sixteen years have passed since I lost my world. I have fought and been strong every day since then. That’s exactly five thousand eight hundred forty days of fighting and being strong. I know because I have counted the days since the accident. It’s another habit I can’t kick. So, today, day five thousand eight hundred forty, I will feel sorry for myself and let Damon feel sorry for me too.
    “I’m going to make it better.” I sniffle and swipe the tears from my cheeks.
    “I promise I am not a big whine bag. It’s just…it’s all I have left.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “They’ve been gone for sixteen years today. My mom’s watch is all I have of them and I ruined it like an adolescent idiot. I knew it wasn’t waterproof. My mom always took it off when she did the dishes. I remember that.” Damon rolls me to my back and scoots down the bed to kneel between my legs. I lay naked before him in tears and he doesn’t seem to be bothered. He picks up one foot and kisses my instep. I shiver as a zap of electricity races through me. He kisses my ankle and another zap goes racing through my nerve endings. He begins dropping a trail a tender kisses up my legs. He stops at the scar on my shin.
    “How did you get this?” he asks as he stares at the ugly reminder of the accident.
    “I have the asshole who killed my parents to thank for that. I was in the backseat when we were hit head on. I had a compound fracture of my leg.” He inhales deeply and looks at me. Anger flashes in his eyes for a moment and it seems so out of place. He has no reason to be angry. I am the one with the fucked up scar and the dead parents. He raises my leg and presses his lips to my scar, then rests his forehead against the ugly reminder.
    “I know you don’t want to hear it but I have to say it. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” His sincere apology causes a new round of tears to fill my eyes and spill over. He comes back to my side and envelopes me