Her eyes open, blue and conflicted and wanting despite herself.
"Right now doesn't exist," she says."There's only before and after.And after always ends badly."
"Not always."
"In my experience?Always."
She pulls her wrist free then, and the loss of contact feels like losing something vital.She steps back, putting distance between us, and I can see her rebuilding her walls in real time.
"I should get back inside," she says."Ciara's probably wondering where I went."
"Yeah.Okay."
But neither of us moves.We just stand there, caught in the gravity of whatever this is between us.
"Tank?"Her voice is small, uncertain.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you.For being honest.For coming out here.For—" She stops."Just thank you."
Then she turns and walks to the door, and this time I don't stop her.
I watch her go, watch the door close behind her, and stand there in the cool night air feeling like I just lost something I never really had.
But for a minute, for one perfect minute, she didn't pull away.She let me touch her.Let herself feel it.
That has to mean something.
Doesn't it?
I run my hand through my hair, trying to collect myself before going back inside.My heart's still racing, body still keyed up from being that close to her.
This isn't over.
I know it should be.I know she's right; we're both too broken for this to work.I know I should walk away, let her have her peace.
But I can't shake the feeling that I just touched something real.Something worth fighting for.
Even if she doesn't think so yet.
I head back inside eventually, the noise and heat hitting me like a wall.The party's in full swing, brothers drinking, women laughing, music loud enough to rattle my bones.
I scan the room and find her near the bar with Ciara.She's laughing at something Rush said, trying to look normal, but even from here I can see the tension in her shoulders and her eyes darting around like she's looking for something.
Or someone.
Our eyes meet across the room.
She looks away first, but not before I see it—the same want I'm feeling reflected back at me.
This isn't over.
Not by a long shot.
6
ENYA
