Page 161 of Relapse

But apparently the universe wasn’t done testing me.

Silas entered and shut the door behind him. There were still hints of disbelief in his expression.

“I was just leaving,” I stated firmly, slowly making a wide circle around where he stood, trying to get back to the door.

Silas stepped in the opposite direction, copying my movements. I couldn’t help but assess him as we stood there, nearly circling each other. His face had healed, although his nose was set slightly differently than what I had remembered. His hand remained in a cast still, down at his side so as to not cause attention.

When he spoke, my body responded with flight mode.

“I just want to talk to you, Noah,” he said.

I dove around him, grabbing at the handle to the door that let me here. Pulled.

“Son of a bitch.”

Of course, it didn’t budge.

“I need to talk to you, Noah. Please listen,” Silas begged. I could feel his presence behind me.

I turned my back to the door and leaned against it. Not like I had much of a choice now. I’d locked myself inside this room with him, and I wasn’t sure how I’d be getting out.

“Okay,” I said. “Talk.”

“Why were you even at the club tonight?” Silas asked, his voice low, searching. “If you wanted nothing to do with me, why come to a place where you knew I’d be?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t come here for you.”

His eyebrows furrowed at me, and as I studied him. I could see many of the new scars forming there.

“You came for the drinks then? Why? I thought you were in rehab?”

My nostrils flared and I instantly wanted to go on the defensive. Because of course Silas would think that I couldn’t do it. Couldn’t stay sober.

But I took a deep breath and calmed myself. He didn’t know any better. I literally showed up to a place that served alcohol and ordered some. Any sane person would have thought I went right back into my old patterns, too.

“No. I bought the drinks. But I sent them back. I am sober.”

His next words took me aback.

“I am proud of you,” he said with a smile.

Embarrassment and something else burned through me. I hated that Silas still had that power over me—that one look, one word, could make me forget every reason I’d built walls around myself. Silas had been in this room with me for all of five minutes and already he was reminding me exactly why I’d never been able to let him go.

“Yeah, sure.” I scoffed.

He moved closer. “I am.”

I’d promised myself I wouldn’t end up here again. But he was breaking down my defenses.

And he wasn’t even trying.

“Okay. So, what? What do you want me to say now?” I mumbled.

I watched him struggle to get the next words out.

“That you forgive me.”

I let out a pained chuckle. “You want forgiveness? From what? Putting a knife in David?”