The muscles in my chest constrict so tight, I can’t move. Can’t breathe. Can’t do anything but stare directly into bloodshot brown eyes.
He says something to my aunt, something my brain refuses to register because he’s finally standing right in front of me, that tilt to his busted lips, his sight trained right on me.
For a moment … the room fades.
It’s just me, and him.
Those brown eyes, hidden beneath the slight swelling. Eyes I that seem like I’ve known for what feels like my whole life.
That undeniable, yet undefinable,pullbringing me to my feet.
“Go ahead and take her down. I need a minute with Emmett.”
And then it shatters.
Reality crashing in, crushing me beneath its weight.
I’m a monster.
I pull my hood up over my hair and tug at the strings as Bobbie wheels my mother’s bed out of the room.
Not once has Tristen’s gaze left mine.
He takes his time leaning a shoulder against the wall and crossing his arms over his chest, the position pushing out the patches right there on his uniform.
Tenis embroidered over his right pec in an almost silver thread, a stark contrast to the dark blue material.
On his left;EMSwith some kind of symbol beneath it.
How did I not see that?
“Em,” he says softly, yet something about it feels so goddamnedheavy. “We need to talk.”
My stomach drops out and I swallow hard.
“O-okay.”
His nostrils flare, the movement making the ring glint in the faint light.
There’s a long stretch of loaded silence that makes my ears ring and my fists tighten around the sleeve cuffs.
“Look at me.”
My gaze crashes to his and it feels so damnraw.
I rock back.
“I don’tever—and I fucking meanever, Emmett—want you to do what you did today.”
His voice is low. Quiet almost. But so damndeepand dangerous that I feel my shoulders creeping up towards my ears.
“You say no, I stop. I say no,you stop. It’s that simple.”
I swallow hard and fight with everything in me to not look away, to not drop my gaze to the floor, even as my eyes grow wetter with each word.
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t have to keep apologizing, but I do need you to hear this next part.”
