AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That night… pulling you from the river.”
Oh God. I didn’t want to talk about that. I couldn’t. Not again.
“I saved you,” he said, quietly. A strange reverence in his voice. “I couldn’t save her though.”
“Who?”
“My mom.” His eyes shuttered again as his chest rose with a deep breath.
My heart raced as we lay there, shoulder to shoulder. I stretched my fingers slightly, brushing Xander’s hand. I didn’t mean to, but once I felt him, it was almost impossible to withdraw. But I needed to before he realized. Snatching them back, I didn’t expect him to snag my hand in his.
His dark-gray eyes opened again. “You’re so strong,” he whispered, closing his fingers around mine. “It’s been years since my mom died and I’m still not over it. I don’t think I’ll ever be over it.”
“I… It’s not the same,” I got the words out over the lump in my throat. “My mom didn’t love me; she didn’t want me around.” Pain flashed through me.
Then it was like black coffee hit Xander’s system, sobering him. He pulled his fingers away from mine. “You shouldn’t be out here.” His expression darkened.
“I know.”
“You should go,” he added, his eyes dipping to my mouth. Heat unfurled in my stomach, butterflies taking flight there.
“Xander, I—”
“Go,” he barked, shooting upright, burying his hands in his face. “Just get out of here.”
I scrambled to my feet. “You really want me to leave?”
“Yes,” it came out rough, “before I do something I’ll regret.”
“Fine,” I hissed, “but you should try to get home too, before you fall asleep out here and get mugged or something.” Forcing myself away from him, I made my way back up the embankment, almost certain I heard his voice carry on the wind.
“You shouldn’t care about me, Peyton. I’ll only disappoint you.”
