Her mouth opened and closed. “They’re just facts. They’re not who I am.”
“Iknowwho you are.” His hand twitched to touch her. Cup her cheek. Grip her hip and tug her closer. “And you deserve better than Art.”
She swallowed. “Who then? WhodoI deserve?”
One word came to mind. A word with two letters that crawled up his throat, threatening to break free, but he didn’t let it.
As the silence lengthened, something akin to disappointment crossed her face. It came and went so quickly he almost thought he’d made it up in his head. Then the anger returned.
“We’re done. Do not show up at my house again. Do not message me. Just let me live my life in peace.”
Every word felt like a kick in the gut. It was only when she turned away from him that he knew he couldn’t let those be the last words she said to him.
He jogged to catch up with her again. “I can’t do that.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Look, I’m sorry I texted him. That was wrong. I just feel protective of you.”
“I don’t need protecting.”
Yeah, he knew that. Elle was strong; buthefelt so fucking weak these days. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Nothing. And it doesn’t matter anyway. We’re not friends, Jace. We haven’t been friends for a long time.”
He lifted a brow, almost finding that funny. “Iconsideryoua friend.”
“Stop it.”
“Why can’t we be friends?”
“Go away.”
“Not until you answer my question.”
“No.”
He grabbed her arm to stop her. “Tink—”
“Because Ilovedyou, you idiot!”
Elle wantedto slam her hand over her mouth. Either that or dig herself a hole so deep that she’d never get out.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
Had those words really just released into the world? Had shereallyjust told Jace Walker that she’dlovedhim?
No. She had to be dreaming. Stuck in some dark nightmare she couldn’t find her way out of.
Jace frowned, and for a moment he was silent. “Loved? Past tense?”
Really? That was all he had to say about her earth-shattering, world-changing confession? And why the heck was she so disappointed? She hadn’t actually expected him to say he’d loved her too, had she? Because she always knew he hadn’t. Not in the way she’d loved him, at least.
Holy crap, she needed to get out of here.
She pulled her arm back and moved faster toward the café.
“Tink, stop. Let’s talk about this.”
