Not to let her walk away from me like this.
I take a step forward, then stop. Because that’s when I see it.
The pure fear in her eyes. The way her thoughts are plaguing her, stealing her ability to think straight.
One wrong move from me will push her too far. And if I apply too much pressure, I’ll lose her for real.
So even though it fucking crushes me, I let her go.
I just stand there, my chest heaving, my hands clenched at my sides, watching the love of my life turn and walk away from me.
Each step she takes feels like it’s ripping out a chunk of my heart.
She doesn’t look back.
Not once.
TWENTY-SIX
Meadow
I don’t just love you as a friend—I’minlove with you. I love you so damn much it hurts.
Owen’s confession plays on repeat in my mind as I make my way back to the suite, the path stretching endlessly ahead of me.
Every step drags like quicksand, my chest still rattling and my eyes stinging from tears. By the time I reach the stone walkway, my legs are trembling from the flood of adrenaline. When I finally reach the suite, I can barely stand.
As soon as the door clicks shut behind me, a harrowing silence takes over, suffocating me in the most unbearable way.
I move through the living area and head straight for my bedroom, my body in survival mode.
The door is already open, and everything is exactly how we left it earlier.
The dim glow from the bedside lamp casts across the room. Our damp towels lay discarded on the unmade bed, evidence from when Owen fucked me—no,made love to me—in the shower just before we left.
It’s as if nothing has changed. But the dried tears on my cheeks are a salty reminder that everything has.
I can’t bring myself to move at first. I just stand there, staring at the sheets we were tangled in earlier, chuckling while talking about what they’d be serving for dinner tonight and whether the reception would have an open bar.
I try not to fall apart again as the memories come rushing back.
I can still feel the way he planted open-mouthed kisses along my jaw, down my neck, and across my collarbone. I remember the way he took me in the shower, how I felt like I was floating outside of my body as his cock rocked deep inside me with every thrust. I can still hear the low, desperate sounds he made, groaning in my ear as his hard length twitched between my thighs, seconds before he spilled himself inside of me.
I slam my eyes shut, trying to hold myself together, but there’s no use. I can’t stop myself from breaking.
A ragged breath escapes me as I take a few steps forward, my heels dangling loosely from my fingers before I drop them near the door. I can barely feel the ache in my feet from walking barefoot along the stone walkway.
All I feel is Owen.
All I hear is him.
I’m in love with you.
My stomach churns violently as I move further into the room, my limbs weak as I slide onto the mattress, sink into myself, and lie on my side.
My gaze drifts to the other end of the bed, finding it empty.
Nothing but an indentation of Owen’s long body in the sheets. I can’t bring myself to scoot to the middle, where he held me just a few hours ago, like I was the most precious thing on earth.
