Back on the ground, with crutches u

Back on the ground, with crutches under my arms, I admitted that horseback riding was pretty damn cool. I didn’t see myself riding one alone in the near future, but Jase had been right. Riding was like dancing in a way. It wouldn’t completely replace the gap in my life, but it was a start.
And it wasn’t the only thing I had.
I smiled as Jase strolled past me, leading Lightning back to the stable. My heart did a cabriole—­a complicated, big jump I’d never be able to do again in reality, but my heart was doing it.
When Jase returned, his father was prowling behind him. Seeing them together again was disconcerting. Same height. Same dark hair. Their long-­legged pace was even identical. Mr. Winstead grinned as they stopped in front of me. “Never seen a prettier gal on crutches before.”
Warmth cascaded over my cheeks. “Thank you.”
“Good to see ya back, but not in those things.” He pulled out a red rag, wiping his hands. “Ain’t too serious?”
I shook my head, thinking getting into the story was probably not something anyone wanted to hear.
“She was just riding Lightning,” Jase said, grinning. “Did damn good for her first time.”
His father’s brows rose. “Ya got up on the horse in yer condition?”
“That she did,” Jase replied, and pleasure hummed through me at the sight of his proud smile. Mom and Dad used to smile like that after my recitals and competitions.
Mr. Winstead cocked his head to the side. “Well, darn, if I was about twenty years younger and there wasn’t your mom . . .”
Jase’s head whipped toward his father. “Come on, Dad, that’s my girlfriend you’re trying to hit on.”
Yep. There was my heart again, doing an escaping step, and damn if I didn’t feel as weightless as a dancer looked when she executed the jump perfectly.
“Girlfriend?” Surprise filled his father’s voice as he looked between us.
Jase grinned shamelessly, and both my knees felt weak. “Girlfriend.”
“Well . . .” He drew in a breath and shook his head, as if he didn’t know what to say. If I doubted what Jase had said about the other girls last night, I didn’t anymore. It was obvious he didn’t bring girls home, and the fact he’d brought me home was a big deal.
“That’s good to hear,” he finally finished, and then smiled, causing those stunningly familiar eyes to light to a beautiful silver. He looked at his son and nodded in a way I felt meant more than I could understand. “That’s really great.”
Jase said nothing, but shifted his gaze back to me.
“Why don’t you two kids come inside for a few minutes?” his father said, stuffing the hanky back into his pocket. “Yer momma just made fresh tea.”
His eyes lit up, and I giggled.
“We’ll be up in a second.” Jase turned to me as his dad ambled off. “You okay with how I broke the news? Guess I could’ve done it better, but really, how do you announce you have a girlfriend without sounding lame.”
“No. It was fine.” I paused as he sauntered up to me. “So I’m the first girl you’ve brought home?”
He tucked a loose strand of hair back. “Since high school.”
That was forever ago it seemed, and I bet it was Jack’s mom. One of these days I was going to get him to talk about her. “That’s . . . wow. I’m . . .”
“Honored?”
I snorted. So ladylike. “That sounds a bit extreme.”
Jase laughed as he sidled up to my side. “Well, a guy only takes a girl home to his parents that he’s really serious or cares about.”
It was late when we returned to my dorm, and when Jase pulled around, I could see that the light was on in my dorm room. Deb must be back.
Jase followed my gaze. “We still on for dinner tomorrow?”
I glanced back at him. “I thought we were having lunch at ­Betty’s?”
He grinned. “Doesn’t mean we can’t have dinner.”
“True,” I laughed, but the sound died off as he pulled up to the sidewalk. I was reluctant to leave him. Today . . . today had been a great day. Jeep idling, he reached for the door handle. “You don’t have to walk me up.”
“But—­”
I silenced him with a kiss. If he came up, I wouldn’t want him to leave, and I needed to talk to Deb. “You don’t have to do it. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
He took his hand off the door. “Text me before you go to bed.”
My lips split into a wide grin. “Okay.”
Before I could pull away, he wrapped his hand around the nape of my neck and kissed me. At once, my mouth opened to his. He tasted me in a way that made it even harder to leave. “Night, Tess.”
I closed my eyes as I pulled back. “Night.”
Jase waited until I was inside before pulling away and I hopped along on my crutches, taking the elevator. Like I suspected, Deb was in the dorm.
She was sitting on the bed, cross-­legged, hair pulled back and wearing an oversized hoodie. When she looked up, she smacked her hand over her mouth. “Oh my God.”
I stilled in the door, confused. “What?”
“Crutches!” She unfurled her legs but didn’t make it far. “I knew you would be on crutches, but I just . . . I don’t know.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “I’m so sorry.”
Placing the crutches against the wall, I carefully walked to my bed and sat down. I didn’t know how to start this conversation, but I knew I was going to tell her about my past. It just wasn’t easy to say, by the way, I dated a fucking loser who beat me. “Debbie—­”
“I broke up with Erik.”
I blinked, thinking I hadn’t heard her right. And then hope sprang within me. “What?”
She got up and sat beside me. “I broke up with Erik earlier today.”
“That’s . . .” What did I say? Great? Fantastic? That seemed inappropriate because I think Deb really cared about him.
“It needed to be done. It had to be because . . .” She ducked her chin, hiding her gaze. “Because you were right on Sunday. Erik . . . he can be a really good guy, but . . .”
“But he hits you,” I said quietly, and for some damn reason, my chest began to squeeze.
She nodded slowly. “He didn’t hit me often. You know, it wasn’t all the time. Sometimes he would just grab me or yell at me. He always—­always—­seemed to regret it afterward. Or at least his apologies seemed believable, and I always forgave him.” She paused, drawing in a deep breath. “No one has ever said anything. Not until you did. I think it was partly because he’s been—­uh, losing his cool a lot more lately, but everyone just looked away.”
“It’s hard to say something,” I said, tucking my left leg against my chest. “I didn’t want to make you mad.” Or embarrass her because that was the main emotion I had felt when my family discovered what I’d been hiding.
“I wasn’t mad. I was ashamed,” she said, confirming my thoughts. “Because why would I stay with him when it’s so obvious he doesn’t treat me right?”
“Because sometimes he treats you like a queen?” I fiddled with the frayed hem of my jeans. “And you hang on to those moments because you know he’s capable of being a good guy.”
I could feel her eyes on me. “You’ve been . . . ?”
Without saying anything, I nodded.
She let out a low breath. “And you broke up with him?”
“Not really.” I barked out a short laugh. “My mom and Cam saw the bruises and I finally told them the truth. I wanted to leave him before then, but I was scared and . . .”
“And you loved him?” she asked in a quiet voice that was laced with pain.
Tugging the little white strings on my jeans, I swallowed hard. “He was my first—­first of everything. I thought I was in love with him. Looking back now, I know it was more about being afraid of being—­”
“Alone?” she said, and I nodded. “We’re pretty stupid, huh? Being afraid of being single outweighs the fear of being hit.”
“You’re not stupid anymore,” I pointed out. “You broke up with him.”
“I did.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she blinked tightly.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Kembali pada tanah, dengan kruk di bawah lengan saya, saya mengakui bahwa Berkuda cukup sialan keren. Aku tidak melihat diriku mengendarai salah satu saja dalam waktu dekat, tetapi Jase telah tepat. Berkuda adalah seperti menari di jalan. Itu tidak sepenuhnya menggantikan kesenjangan dalam hidup saya, tetapi itu adalah awal.Dan itu bukan satu-satunya hal yang aku punya.Aku tersenyum seperti Jase berjalan melewati saya, memimpin petir kembali ke kandang. Hati saya lakukan cabriole-melompat rumit, besar aku tidak akan mampu melakukan lagi dalam kenyataan, tapi hatiku melakukannya.Ketika Jase kembali, ayahnya berkeliaran di belakangnya. Melihat mereka bersama-sama sekali lagi adalah membingungkan. Ketinggian yang sama. Rambut gelap yang sama. Langkah mereka berkaki panjang ini bahkan identik. Tn. Winstead menyeringai ketika mereka berhenti di depan saya. "Pernah melihat seorang gadis cantik di kruk sebelumnya."Kehangatan mengalir di pipiku. "Terima kasih.""Baik untuk Lihat ya kembali, tapi tidak dalam hal-hal." Dia mengeluarkan sebuah kain merah, mengusap tangannya. "Tidak terlalu serius?"Saya menganggukkan kepala, berpikir mendapatkan ke dalam cerita itu mungkin bukan sesuatu yang orang ingin mendengar."Dia hanya naik Lightning," kata Jase, menyeringai. "Melakukan sialan baik untuk dia pertama kalinya."Ayahnya alis naik. "Ya bangun pada kuda dalam kondisi yer?""Bahwa dia lakukan," Jase menjawab, dan kesenangan hummed melalui saya melihat senyumnya bangga. Mom dan Dad digunakan untuk tersenyum seperti itu setelah saya resital dan kompetisi.Tn. Winstead mengokang kepalanya ke samping. "Nah, darn, jika saya sekitar dua puluh tahun lebih muda dan tidak ada ibumu..."Jase dari kepala whipped terhadap ayahnya. Ayolah, ayah, yang Anda mencoba untuk memukul pada pacar saya."Yap. Ada hatiku lagi, melakukan melarikan diri langkah, dan sial jika saya tidak merasa ringan seperti seorang penari tampak ketika ia dieksekusi melompat sempurna."Pacar?" Kejutan penuh suara ayahnya saat ia melihat antara kami.Jase menyeringai tanpa malu-malu, dan kedua lutut saya merasa lemah. "Pacar.""Yah..." Ia menarik dalam napas dan menggelengkan kepala, seolah-olah ia tidak tahu harus berkata apa. Jika saya meragukan apa Jase telah mengatakan tentang gadis-gadis lain tadi malam, saya tidak lagi. Itu jelas dia tidak membawa gadis rumah dan fakta dia membawa saya rumah adalah masalah besar."Itu baik untuk mendengar," dia akhirnya selesai, dan tersenyum, menyebabkan mata yang memukau akrab untuk cahaya perak yang indah. Ia melihat anaknya dan mengangguk di jalan aku merasa berarti lebih dari saya bisa mengerti. "Itu benar-benar hebat."Jase mengatakan apa-apa, tetapi bergeser dengan tatapan kembali ke saya."Kenapa tidak Anda dua anak-anak datang dalam selama beberapa menit?" kata ayahnya, isian hanky kembali ke dalam saku. "Yer momma hanya membuat teh segar."Matanya menyala, dan aku terkikik."Kami akan sampai dalam satu detik." Jase menoleh padaku seperti ayahnya melenggang. "Anda baik-baik saja dengan bagaimana saya pecah Berita? Kira aku bisa melakukan itu lebih baik, tapi benar-benar, bagaimana melakukan Anda mengumumkan Anda punya pacar tanpa terdengar lumpuh.""No. Itu baik-baik saja." Aku berhenti karena dia sauntered sampai kepada saya. "Jadi saya gadis pertama Anda sudah membawa pulang?"Ia terselip longgar untai rambut kembali. "Sejak sekolah menengah."Bahwa selamanya lalu sepertinya, dan aku yakin itu adalah ibu Jack. Salah satu dari hari-hari ini saya akan mendapatkan dia untuk berbicara tentang dirinya. "Itu adalah... wow. I’m . . .”"Terhormat?"Aku mendengus. Jadi Citrānggadā. "Kedengarannya agak ekstrim."Jase tertawa ketika dia sidled ke samping. "Yah, seorang pria hanya mengambil seorang gadis rumah orangtuanya bahwa ia benar-benar serius atau peduli."Itu adalah akhir ketika kami kembali ke asrama saya, dan ketika Jase ditarik di sekitar, aku bisa melihat bahwa terang itu berada pada di saya kamar asrama. Deb harus kembali.Jase mengikuti pandangan. "Kami masih di untuk makan malam besok?"Aku melirik ke arahnya. "Saya pikir kami sedang makan siang di Betty?"Dia menyeringai. "Tidak berarti kita tidak bisa memiliki makan malam.""True," Aku tertawa, tapi suara meninggal pergi karena ia ditarik ke trotoar. Aku enggan untuk meninggalkannya. Hari ini... hari ini telah menjadi hari besar. Jeep pemalasan, ia mencapai untuk pegangan pintu. "Anda tidak perlu berjalan saya.""Tetapi —"Saya menghentikannya dengan ciuman. Jika ia datang, aku tidak ingin dia pergi, dan aku perlu berbicara dengan Deb. "Anda tidak perlu melakukannya. Saya akan menelepon Anda besok."Dia mengambil tangannya dari pintu. "Teks saya sebelum Anda pergi tidur."Bibir saya dibagi menjadi senyum lebar. "Oke."Sebelum aku bisa menarik diri, dia dibungkus tangannya di sekitar tengkuk leher saya dan mencium saya. Sekaligus, mulutku terbuka nya. Dia merasakan saya dengan cara yang membuatnya bahkan lebih sulit untuk meninggalkan. "Malam, Tess."Saya menutup mata saya sebagai saya ditarik kembali. "Malam."Jase menunggu sampai aku berada di dalam sebelum menarik diri dan aku melompat sepanjang tongkat ketiak saya, mengambil Lift. Seperti yang saya curiga, Deb pada asrama.Dia duduk di tempat tidur, lesehan, rambut ditarik kembali dan mengenakan hoodie kebesaran. Ketika dia mendongak, dia berbau tangannya ke mulutnya. "Oh my God."Saya ditenangkan oleh di pintu, bingung. "Apa?""Kruk!" Dia membentangkan kakinya tetapi tidak membuatnya jauh. "Aku tahu Anda akan pada kruk, tapi aku hanya... Aku tidak tahu." Dia menekan tangannya ke dadanya. "Saya minta maaf."Menempatkan kruk ke dinding, saya hati-hati berjalan ke tempat tidur dan duduk. Saya tidak tahu bagaimana untuk memulai percakapan ini, tapi aku tahu aku akan menceritakan tentang masa laluku. Hal itu tidak mudah untuk mengatakan, omong-omong, saya tanggal pecundang sialan yang memukul saya. "Debbie —""Aku putus dengan Erik."Saya berkedip, berpikir aku tidak mendengar haknya. Dan kemudian harapan melompat dalam diri saya. "Apa?"Dia bangun dan duduk di samping saya. "Aku putus dengan Erik sebelumnya hari ini.""Itu..." Apa yang saya katakan? Hebat? Fantastis? Yang tampak tidak pantas karena saya pikir Deb benar-benar peduli padanya."Itu perlu dilakukan. Itu karena... " Dia merunduk dagunya, menyembunyikan pandangan matanya. "Karena kau tepat pada hari Minggu. Erik... ia bisa menjadi orang benar-benar baik, tapi... "“But he hits you,” I said quietly, and for some damn reason, my chest began to squeeze.She nodded slowly. “He didn’t hit me often. You know, it wasn’t all the time. Sometimes he would just grab me or yell at me. He always—­always—­seemed to regret it afterward. Or at least his apologies seemed believable, and I always forgave him.” She paused, drawing in a deep breath. “No one has ever said anything. Not until you did. I think it was partly because he’s been—­uh, losing his cool a lot more lately, but everyone just looked away.”“It’s hard to say something,” I said, tucking my left leg against my chest. “I didn’t want to make you mad.” Or embarrass her because that was the main emotion I had felt when my family discovered what I’d been hiding.“I wasn’t mad. I was ashamed,” she said, confirming my thoughts. “Because why would I stay with him when it’s so obvious he doesn’t treat me right?”“Because sometimes he treats you like a queen?” I fiddled with the frayed hem of my jeans. “And you hang on to those moments because you know he’s capable of being a good guy.”I could feel her eyes on me. “You’ve been . . . ?”Without saying anything, I nodded.She let out a low breath. “And you broke up with him?”“Not really.” I barked out a short laugh. “My mom and Cam saw the bruises and I finally told them the truth. I wanted to leave him before then, but I was scared and . . .”“And you loved him?” she asked in a quiet voice that was laced with pain.Tugging the little white strings on my jeans, I swallowed hard. “He was my first—­first of everything. I thought I was in love with him. Looking back now, I know it was more about being afraid of being—­”“Alone?” she said, and I nodded. “We’re pretty stupid, huh? Being afraid of being single outweighs the fear of being hit.”“You’re not stupid anymore,” I pointed out. “You broke up with him.”“I did.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she blinked tightly.