When his weight leaves the bed and the sound of his footsteps retreat out into the hall, Eden isn’t surprised. It hurts like hell because—yeah—she saw this coming, but she can’t blame him, either. She’s just as frustrated with herself if not more. Shang is used to the bright, bubbly version of her. This isn’t what he signed up for. He deserves a girlfriend that he doesn’t have to baby or constantly check up on.
See? He’s leaving, just like I knew he would.
His voice reaches her ears, but his words are muffled by the distance he’s put between them. It sounds like he’s on the phone with someone, but Eden can’t be sure.
“Hey, Rina… No, I’m afraid not. What? Tell Drenton to stop screaming in the background, I can’t hear you… Next time, alright? Yeah, you too.”
Much to Eden’s confusion and dismay, Shang returns to bed. He climbs under her protective mountain of covers and holds her close, her back pressed flat against his chest as he presses kisses to her hair.
“Stop,” she pleads, her voice thin and weak. “I haven’t showered.”
“I don’t care.”
She squirms, tries and fails to push him off. Her skin is uncomfortably tight. “Leave me alone.”
“No.”
“Go away, Shang!”
“Is that really what you want?”
Eden whimpers. “Yes.” She’s lying, of course, but Eden can’t help but wonder if it’d be easier if he gave up. She doesn’t know if or when her slump’s ever going to end. Right now, it feels eternal.
Despite this, he holds her even tighter. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”
“Butwhy?”
“Because.”
Frustration bubbles to the surface, nothing but anger filling her chest. “That’s not a fucking answer!”
“Eden—”
“Just leave. I’m not worth it, alright?”
“Don’t say that. Youareworth it.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“You’re being really fucking annoying, Shang.”
“You’ll have to forgive me, sunshine.”
Eden yells into her palms. “Justgoalready.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I love you.”
His confession knocks the air out of her lungs. Her head spins, the rest of the world dropping out from beneath her. Were it not for the safety of Shang’s strong arms, Eden wouldn’t be able to tell up from down.
“You… You what?”
“I love you, Eden,” he whispers, pressing a tender kiss to the nape of her neck. “Just because things are hard right now, that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up on you. Love doesn’t pick and choose. You were there for me, and now I’m going to be here for you.”
