The tunnel vision started at the edge of my sight. A high-pitched ringing began in my ears.
Fuck, not this bullshit, not right now, of all fucking times.
“Did you see his face?” Cal asked, starting the engine, still riding the high of the brawl. “Presley was losing his mind in Gorilla, he loved it. He said—”
“Can we just go?” I snapped, cutting him off. I didn’t mean to, Jesus I needed to get a fucking grip, and fast.
The static built under my skin. I tried to push it down, tried to hold onto the arousal from the texts, but the fear was stronger.
Cal glanced at me, his smile fading. “Yeah. Okay. You hungry?”
“No.”
“You need to eat, Si. You wrestled for forty minutes.”
“I said I’m not hungry!” I yelled, staring out the window. “Just drive the fucking car, Cal.”
The silence returned, but now it was sharp. Hostile.
Caldrove. He didn’t speak again. He gripped the steering wheel tight, confusion radiating off him. He didn’t understand. One minute I was sexting him about needing him inside me, the next I was biting his head off.
I squeezed my eyes shut.Stop it,I told myself.He didn’t do anything. Stop being a dick. You’re acting like you did in Philadelphia.
Oh fuck.
Is that what happened seven years ago?
Who knows?
Fuck, my body feels weird.
I couldn’t stop. The walls of the car shrank. The seatbelt became a noose.
We pulled into the hotel. I got out before the car even fully stopped. I walked through the lobby with my head down. The lights seemed too bright. The noise of the elevator dinging was like a gunshot.
“Silas,” Cal said as we walked down the hallway. He reached for my hand. I don’t think he gave a damn if anyone saw him right now.
I flinched away, physically recoiling. Even though all I wanted was to reach out to him. “Don’t.”
“What is your problem?” Cal asked, his frustration finally bubbling over as he unlocked the door. “You were fine at the venue. Did I do something?”
“Just leave me alone,” I muttered, pushing past him into the room. I was becoming more frantic, I knew it.
I dropped my bag on the floor. My hands were shaking uncontrollably now. My heart was hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I was a bird trapped in a cage.
He’s hurt.
You hurt him.
It’s happening again.
“I’m going to shower,” I choked out.
“Let me help you,” Cal said, stepping forward, his voice softening as he saw my hands shaking. “You look wrecked, Si. Let me—”
“I said no!” I shouted, backing away until my back hit the wall. “Just—Let me be!”
Cal froze. He looked hurt. “Okay. Fine. Go.”
