I throw my hands up with defeat. “Well, there’s obviously something about my presence that’s annoying you.”
“I’m not annoyed by you,” he snaps. “I’m annoyed when I have to spend time away from you.”
“Are you still mad about me leaving with LJ?”
“Ugh. No.”
I pout, watching him hunch over. “Then why are you pushing me away?”
Dax stands and pushes past me. “Can’t you ever let anything go?”
“Dax.” It puffs out of me as he paces into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
I jolt when the walls around me quake. I place my hands on my chest, and my nervous heart pulsates.
What should I do? Knock on the door and be yelled at? Leave the pool house and give him space? Just sit on the floor and silently wait for him to come out?
I wince at the colliding thoughts and wander into the living room. I plonk onto the couch and curl my feet beside me. I cuddle a large, square pillow and rest my chin upon it.
That wasn’t the attitude of someone falling in love with me. He didn’t even seem to like me. I peer over at the hallway and watch the bathroom doorknob. Right now, the only conclusion I see coming is he’ll walk out of the bathroom and tell me we’re through.
It’s an eternity before he emerges from the bathroom. I’m rigid as he makes his way toward me.
“Can we start over?” he asks.
I look up at him, feeling helpless and small. “You yelled at me.”
“I got heated. I’m sorry.”
“You’re mad at me for spending time with LJ?”
He looms over me with his broad frame. “No, I just have a lot going on.”
“I didn’t kiss him, if that’s what you’ve been thinking.”
He retches. “Ugh. Don’t go there.”
“Everything changed last night. Just admit you don’t want to be with me anymore.”
“What? Where did you get that from?”
My eyes water. “You disappeared this morning.”
He sits. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Why would you leave Ashworth Estate? You’re safe here.”
“Yesterday, I spent all day here, waiting for you. I needed to get out.”
I retch, and my nostrils flare. “There it is. You are mad at me for being out all day.”
He gets up and steps away. “I don’t want to keep doing this.”
His words cut me like a knife. On shaky legs, I stand and step toward him. “Maybe we’ve gone about this too fast.”
His seriousness morphs into worry. “What?”
I motion between us. “This. Us. Maybe we let our feelings get too out of control.”
