“That’s my favorite smile. You have no idea how often I dream of it.” He brought a hand up and brushed his thumb against my bottom lip. “I want to possess it. To keep it for myself.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. The butterflies were having a field day in my stomach.
“Tell me about the accident,” he said again, searching my face.
“There’s not much to tell. I was driving the car when it happened. I walked away with three cuts and a broken arm,” I said, my voice even. “And my mom died from it.”
“Fuck.” He pulled me into his arms and held me. “I’m sorry.”
I accepted his words even though they didn’t make me feel anything anymore. When I thought about the accident these days, I felt nothing. When I thought about Luke, I felt nothing. I was just blank all the time. Blank all the time unless Lachlan was in front of me.
“It was horrifying,” I whispered. “I blacked out and broke my arm from the force of the airbag, but I came to while I was still in the car and. . .” I shivered. “It was awful.”
“I’m sorry,” he breathed against my hair.
“It’s another reason I need you to stay away.”
“Why?” He pulled back. “The accident wasn’t just an accident?”
I shook my head. He watched me for a long time. I could see the wariness in his expression as he looked at me. I mean, these were some crazy allegations. He had no reason to believe me. But then, his expression shifted from wariness to confusion to anger. He remained there.
His jaw ticked. “Do you think you know who caused it?”
“I know who did it,” I said quietly as the image of him popped into my head. I pushed it away quickly. “As I said, I’ll tell you everything when I know it’s safe.”
“So, what, in order to keep me safe, you’re not going to see me until then?” He stared at me, disbelief clear in his expression. “After tonight?” He held both my hands in one of his. “You’re leaving for the other side of the country, and you think I’m not going to see you every chance I get until then?”
“Did you not hear a word I said?” I searched his eyes, hoping the gravity of the situation would sink in. “This is exactly why I tried to keep this from happening.”
“Come on, Lyla,” he said, tilting his head like that idea was absurd. “This was always going to happen.”
“I don’t understand why,” I said. “Why me? Because I’m difficult?”
“You know why you.” His eyes bore into mine. My stomach did a flip. “What if I come here? Or you go to my place?”
“You shouldn’t spend the time you have left of college hiding out and not going to parties,” I said.
“I’m not interested in parties.” His gaze was intense again. “I’m not interested in any of it.”
“I’m just saying we’re going our separate ways, and you might regret it,” I pointed out. “You’ll go to Toronto or Boston, and I’ll be elsewhere.”
“Lyla James.” He smiled one of his slow, sexy smiles. “Yousureyou weren’t interested in me?”
I pursed my lips. “Be serious.”
“I’m being serious.” He chuckled, lifting my hand and nipping the tips of my fingers with his teeth. “I could be in Toronto and you in Tokyo, and I’d still find a way to keep exploring this.”
“Lach.”
“Look, if sneaking around will make you comfortable, fine. I don’t give a fuck what I have to do.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Okay?” He raised an eyebrow. “Okay, what?”
“Okay, let’s keep seeing each other,” I said, adding, “In private.In secret.Until we leave.”
“And then?” He lifted my hand again and kissed the inside of my wrist.
