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“Why?”
“Crying like that.”
“Why did you?”
Luna chuckles. I brush it off. I’m not sure what’s funny.
“And now you’re laughing. Why?” I ask. She laughs again.
“You’re bad with manners and reading emotions.”
“I’m not. I just don’t care enough to spare anyone’s feelings.” Luna’s face drops at my words. Tears build up in her eyes again, but they never fall. It’s as if everything that leaves my mouth keeps surprising her, but when will she learn that I’m not joking? That I'm not going to sugarcoat what I say just for her benefit?
“I thought maybe it’d be different with me,” she mutters.
“Don’t hold high hopes. Don’t twist how you want me to be in your mind because it’ll only cause you disappointment. I’m not a gentleman, baby,” I say back to her as I finally let go of her. I feel colder without her body against mine, but maybe holding her doesn’t help the fantasy that she’s building in her head. I slide my boxers back on, leaving the rest of my clothes on the floor.
There’s a bang on the door, followed by a muffled shout of her name. “Open the fucking door, Luna!” Bang. Bang. Bang.
Before Luna has a chance to go to the door, I stride out of the room and swing it open. Who the fuck thinks they can bang on her door like that?
Chase stares at me with wide eyes. My gaze doesn’t stray as fear creeps into his.
“You,” Chase rasps. “Noah said some guy showed up here. I don’t know why I didn’t expect you.”
“Miss me?” I joke. Chase rolls his eyes.
“Why couldn’t you stay gone?”
“Really, it wouldn’t have mattered if I stayed gone. Luna never stopped thinking of me,” I state.
“She never talked about you.”
“Maybe you should ask her about the secrets she’s been keeping.”
“Stop,” Luna says from behind me.
“What does he mean? Secrets?” Chase asks her, looking right past me towards the black-haired girl at my side. “Luna?”
nineteen
LUNA
This must be a joke—a sick and twisted prank from the Man upstairs. Karma. Revenge. Payback. I wanted Jax here. I wanted him to come back and apologize for walking out, for not fighting to stay, and for never offering me to go with him. I wouldn't have because I have a life here, dreams to fulfill, degrees to chase. I just wanted to know the option was there.
But now I know better. Every image of a man who could be is just that—an image.
He wants to own me but on his terms. He won’t alter who he is to be a better person. So why? Why can’t I shake him? Why can’t I let him go, and why can’t he let me go?
My stomach flips as my mind rushes into realization. A mix of worry, dread, and fear wraps itself tightly around me like an old blanket. No matter what type of man he is, I've fallen for him at the end of the day, and even so many months apart, I can’t shake the attraction.
Jax walked back in here like he owned the place, and I opened my legs—just like he expected. My body is like his favorite book—a masterpiece that he created. He knows his way around my mind and body. He knows what lights a fire in me. He owns me. He has every single piece of me and I can’t take it back. He won’t return it, no refunds.
“Secrets?” Chase presses again.
“How she used that boyfriend of hers just to push me away. Oops, didn’t work,” Jax shrugs.
“Luna?” Chase tries to get my attention, looking for confirmation. I nod my head in silence. I’m ashamed. I really am, but what’s done is done. I can’t change what’s happened already.
