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The inferno between us instantly cools as he untangles me from his body and steps away.
“I-I don’t understand…”
He drags a hand down his face. “We should slow down.”
“I see.” The words taste like ash on my tongue.
Turning away from him, I wrap my arms around myself and inhale a shuddering breath. Shame washes through me, curdling in my stomach.
“Kat, I didn’t—”
“Forget it, I kissed you. I thought…”
“I should get you home.”
“I’m not going home.” I glance back at him, hardly surprised at the regret glittering in his gaze.
He didn’t want this. Not like I wanted it.
He just got caught up in the moment.
What hot-blooded man wouldn’t with a girl throwing themselves at him?
“Katrina,” he warns.
“Don’t.” I turn slowly, meeting his heavy stare. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Pretend you care.”
“I do care.”
Just not enough. I swallow the words down. “I’m going to go. Just… do me a favor, yeah?”
“Anything.”
“If D or anyone asks you where I am or if you’ve seen me, tell them you haven’t.”
“Thought we were pretending nothing else exists?”
“Game’s over.”
Even if it was nice while it lasted.
* * *
Ryder let me walk away without an argument. I was relieved, if not a little disappointed.
But what did I really expect?
That he’d chase me down and finish what we started in the abandoned mill?
I saw the guilt in his eyes, the regret. And I didn’t want to be anyone else’s mistake.
So I did the only thing I could to protect myself—I walked away.
Jesus, I was a mess. At least I owned it though. Every flawed, messy, bratty piece of me.
