It almost feels natural. In that one second, Peeta can almost forget everything else between them and pretend they can be that natural again. Except the stinging of the medicine on his wound sends fresh images through his mind and he has to close his eyes and focus. Focus on the familiarity of the hands, ignore the memory of the pain.

Her question catches him off guard and his eyes snap open to look at her. He smiles again, though now with a tightness at its edges. "I was careless helping with the construction yesterday. It won't happen again."