Page 162 of Sugar & Shadows

“I don’t want you alone. All this… it feels off.” The words came out sharper than I’d intended. Too possessive. Too fearful.

And as I expected, the moment they were out, she did not react well. She took a big step away from me, crossing her arms, going on the defensive.

“I can handle myself.” Her voice was low and dangerous.

I clenched my fists at my sides. “Isolating yourself is not going to fix anything. We’re under attack on multiple fronts.”

Her eyes flared. “Don’t you think I know that? Can’t you see that I ruin everything I touch? But there is one thing I do well, and it’s fuck with people who cross me. Let me handle this. Please. Stay far away.”

“I can’t do that,” I growled, frustration surging inside me. “You vanished for twelve hours.”

“I was working,” she shouted.

“You were hiding from me. From us.”

Her expression turned murderous. But beneath the sharp surface? There was fear. And it made my heart stop.

“Let’s call a press conference,” I offered. “Or have Harper film a video for the socials. We can show solidarity and talk about our exciting plans for Maplewood. Make it clear we will not be deterred.”

She recoiled. “You cannot afford to be publicly tied to me right now.”

A scoff escaped me and echoed around the room. “I already am.”

“No.” She shook her head, taking another step back. “No. You’re not doing that. You will get out there and hit the ground. Assure your constituents that everything is fine. You will put distance between us publicly.”

The intensity of the pain in my chest was only matched by my anger. Didn’t she see what she was asking for?

“No.”

“But this could get you recalled.”

I backed her closer to the wall, taking one step, then another. “You don’t get to decide for me,” I said coolly. “I don’t give a fuck about being mayor. I’ll leave it all behind tomorrow. Same with this town. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to smooth things over.”

As shocking as it was, it was the truth. My entire life had been built around serving this town. Keeping everyone happy. Being the agreeable, reasonable guy who got along with everyone. But standing here with her now, I understood that the old version of me was long gone.

She stared at me, wide-eyed, but I was just getting started.

“All I want is to protect you and our baby, then destroy every person who has ever hurt you.”

“I ruin people,” she rasped. “I don’t want to ruin you.”

Grasping her chin, I tipped it up so I could see the tears welling in her beautiful dark eyes. “You have already ruined me.” I gave her a feral smile. “I know what life is like without you, and I’m never going back.”

Angling in, I kissed her. It was gentle, despite the way I wanted to ravage her. I held her close, trying to say with my body what words could not achieve. She kissed me back, clutching the front of my shirt.

For a moment, I thought she may let me in. May let me carry this with her.

But then she pulled away and averted her gaze. “We both have a lot of work to do.” Her walls slammed down between us, thick and impenetrable.

Grief hit me like a sucker punch. “Sabrina.”

She took a step back. “I mean it. We are going to make the Maplewood Games happen. Even if it takes everything we’ve got.”

Her rejection stung. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder, jump in my Jeep, and drive away from all of this.

But that was not who Sabrina was. She didn’t run. She fought.

“Okay,” I said softly. “But promise me you’ll come over later. So we can talk.”