Page 54 of Only Be Mine

I folded in on myself, hugging my knees to my chest.

Without another word, he picked up the sponge and poured warm water slowly over my back, his touch steady, and deliberate. The warmth soaked in, easing the ache in my shoulders, the sting in my scraped skin, the tight knot in my chest.

He rubbed gentle circles, unhurried.

After a long moment, he set the sponge aside. “How did this happen?”

I froze.

For a moment there, I let myself think maybe Trevor hadn’t told him. Maybe I’d imagined the whole thing spiraling this far. God, I was an idiot.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, staring at the wall. I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t bear to see the hurt I knew had to be there.

His hand settled on my shoulder, careful of the places that still ached. “Look at me.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t. Hurting him felt unbearable, and that was exactly what I’d done.

When he didn’t say anything else, I finally opened one eye.

He was smiling.

Not amused or dismissive. Just… gentle.

“So,” he said softly, “what did you want to talk about?”

My throat closed. I’d barely managed to say it once, how was I supposed to do it again?

“I-I don’t know where to start,” I admitted. “Did you talk to Trevor?”

He nodded.

The water drained from the tub with a hollow sound as I pulled the plug, then wrapped myself in a towel, suddenly cold. “Then I guess there’s nothing left to say except… I’m sorry.”

Confusion crossed his face, quick and unmistakable. He stood and left the room without a word.

My chest tightened. This is it.

When he came back a moment later, he was holding my duffel bag. That same quiet sadness lingered in his eyes, and I wondered if I’d mistaken it for love all along.

Either way, this felt like the end.

I clutched the towel tighter and reached for the bag.

“I didn’t know what you’d want to wear,” he said, running a hand through his hair, tension evident in the movement. “So, I brought the whole thing.”

I blinked. “What?”

He stepped back toward the hallway. “I’ll wait out there.”

“Wait.” I caught his arm, panic spiking. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Get dressed,” he said gently. “We’ll talk when you’re done.”

He turned to leave.

“I kissed Trevor!” I blurted.

John stopped.