Free Save Me (Elk Creek) by Crystal Lee

death, but no real panic. Strange, yet a welcome strange. His hands enveloped mine, grasping and holding them. They felt warm and rough, but not hard.
                  “I’m fine, you just scared the crap out of me,” I gasped out, meeting his gaze. God, I think I was in love with his eyes. So bright and warm, cozy even. 
                  “TARYN!” I heard Ethan and Grandpa yell as I saw them running through the sliding door. I let go of Carter’s hands, but he continued to hold onto me. I looked rapidly from him to Ethan, then to Grandpa. The frantic looks on their faces snapped me into action.
                  “I’m okay, guys. Sorry I scared you. I just got startled, that’s all,” I said to placate them.
                  “It was my fault,” Carter said quickly. “I was coming in the same time she was going out. When she saw me it scared her. Sorry.” While he spoke, he did not take his eyes off of me. After a few moments of silence, and I could only imagine what Grandpa and Ethan were thinking, Carter released my hands, leaned down and started to pick up the dropped tray and food.
                  “I can get that, Carter,” I said as I began to do the same.
                  “It’s no problem, I made you drop them, after all.” He gave me a broad smile. Before I could stop it, a giggle erupted, and then another. 
                  “You just keep seeing me at my worst, lucky you,” I said in amusement. It was either that or start crying. How many times could I make a fool out of myself in front of him?
                  “Nah, not your worst, just you,” he replied with soft sincerity. I was a little taken aback, and tried not to question exactly what he meant by that. We both stood up, and I took the tray from him.
                  “Thanks,” was all I managed to get out as I walked back to the kitchen. After taking care of the ruined salads and dirty tray, I arranged new bowls of food and headed back out. As I got to the slider, I was relieved to find it free of any huge, muscled men and walked out on the patio. I noticed that Ethan was talking to Carter, and it seemed a little intense. I was curious what had Ethan so agitated. I was stupidly hoping it wasn’t about me. Not wanting to face them if it was, I ignored them.
                  After everything was set out, and guests had arrived, I piled some food on a paper plate, but didn’t feel much like eating, or talking to anyone, for that matter. I sat at a table by myself, pushing beans and pasta corkscrews around with my fork. Ethan approached me and dropped into the folding chair next to mine.
                  “Hey, why are you sitting over here by yourself?” he asked.
                  “Ethan, do you ever get tired of constantly worrying about me?” I asked without answering his question.
                  He looked at me, and his frustration revealed little creases in the corners of his eyes. “No,” he said. “I have worried about you since you were a baby, and I was just out of diapers. I will worry about you until I die. It is what it is, and Taryn, honestly, I wouldn’t be me without you. I need you just as much as you need me. That’s the way it should be, always.”
                  I nodded. “You know, I worry about you, too. I worry about what you’re sacrificing for my sake. The things you could be doing, instead of always hanging around taking care of me.  I’ve been thinking of talking to Uncle Jim about seeing another psychologist or something. I really want to go to school, and I realize that can’t happen right away, but I want to be on my own.” I could see his mood shift from frustration to anger. “I don’t want to be dependent on you all my life, Ethan. I want to do things too, like maybe drive a car, have friends, or heaven forbid a