My smile falters and my gut twists into knots that makes my stomach churn with dread and nausea.
How does she know? Fuck, what if she really tells him?
No, wait! Maybe she’s bluffing? As long as I don’t admit anything, she can’t prove her accusation.
“I’m sorry but I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, concealing my panic under a smile. “I know you don’t like me because you’re worried about Aoi, but I will never do anything to hurt him voluntarily. I swear it. I’m sure our age gap might be what’s ticking you off but I’m not some stupid kid.”
She scoffs. “He doesn’t know it yet because his memories won’t allow him to recognize you, but I remember you,Visha.”
“How-”
“You seriously think I could ever forget the last name of the kid who almost caused my best friend’s death?” She glances behind her in case he’s around, and lowers her voice, sharpening her words. “You will break up with him before he gets more attached, or I’ll make sure he’ll hate you forever. You have no idea in what state he was because of you, so don’t you dare break his heart again.”
“I-I didn’t meant to leave. Amira, I swear, I love him more than anything in the world!” My eyes plead her to believe me, but I am only met with wrath.
“Your little obsession with him ends here. I don’t care what kind of trauma bond you think you’ve developed with him. Break up with him and spare him the pain of finding out who you really are.”
“But-”
She raises her hand to shut me up. “I will not risk losing him again. If you really love him as you claim to, you’ll do what’s right.”
Aoi appears behind her with a huge smile, big blue eyes shining at me, and I forcefully swallow the lump in my throat. “I was about to text you to come pick me up. You’re early.”
He steps past Amira and hesitates to kiss me. Instead he turns to the embodiment of quiet rage and hugs her. She pulls him close in response as her icy eyes flash me a silent threat.
“I’ll see you later,” he says, smiling as he settles at my side and takes my hand.
She nods and watches us head down the stairs before she shuts the door, and I instantly focus on Aoi leading me out of the building.He stops right in front of my parked McLaren and tilts his head so adorably that I want to kiss him all over.
“Is something wrong? Why do you look like you saw a ghost?” he asks, cupping my cheeks and scanning my features. “Do you feel sick? I hope you didn’t catch a cold. That’d be odd since it’s almost summer.”
I place my hands on top of his and deflate into his touch. “I just missed you.”
“You’re so needy,” he chuckles and kisses me tenderly. “Let’s go home.”
Home.
Anywhere with him is home.
But am I really about to lose him all over again? Do I really have to break up with him when we’re finally together?
I don’t want to. If I can’t be with him, then what’s the point of anything? I’ve spent most of my life loving him and yearning for him. I can’t lose him again.
“Andrew? Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks, worry glistening in his ocean eyes. “You’re on the verge of tears.”
Fuck, I think he’s right and the fact that he pointed it out pulled the trigger on them. I let rivers stream down my cheeks.
Aoi opens the car door and helps me get into the passenger seat as he sits down in my lap and wraps his arms around my shoulders.
“Look at me,” he demands softly, reaching for my face and angling it to meet his. “I’m here. You can talk to me.”
How can I deserve someone as wonderful as him? Amira is right. If I don’t break up with him, he’ll eventually find out the truth about me, and it will destroy him.
“Please, don’t leave me no matter what happens,” I plead, wrapping my arms around his waist and holding him pressed against me. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” he murmurs unconvincingly, stroking my head. “I won’t leave, nomatter what.”
45
