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“You’re acting like I didn’t just catch you with your hand in the cookie jar. And then gaslighting me about it.”
“I don’t know what that even means.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re not going anywhere without me.”
“Really? And you’re going to stop me?”
“Matéo, we’re supposed to work together. I’m supposed to protect you.”
A growl exploded from my throat before I could stop it. “Youcan’tprotect me, Rose. No one can protect me. Don’t you get that?”
“I can’t if you don’t let me.”
“I don’t want to let you!”
The ring burned my chest. It grew so hot that I nearly flung it from my neck—but I knew I couldn’t. This was my mother’s ring. Was she angry with me? Or was I merely steaming with agitation?
“You don’t mean that,” she said in a low voice. “I can tell you don’t.”
I shook my head. “You can’t read my emotions, Rose. You just wish you could.”
“You don’t mean that either.”
“Just because you don’t want something doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
Her eyes billowed with unshed tears as the tip of her nose reddened. She advanced with her palm extended. “You… don’t… mean that.”
“I don’t want your help. I don’t want to be around you.”
Each word intensified the heat until it felt like my heart was on fire.
She shook her head as a tear spilled down her cheek. “You don’t mean it.”
“You can’t change my mind. You can’t—”
She slammed her hand against my chest, the ring scalding my skin. I cried out and tried to retreat, pressing into the truck with all my might. But no matter what I tried to do, I couldn’t get away from her.
I couldn’t resist her touch.
I couldn’t stopfeeling.
Chapter 18 - Rose
It felt like I had shoved my hand into an oven. The more I pressed against his chest, the hotter it got, an inferno raging beneath my fingers.
“You don’t mean it,” I kept chanting. “Youcan’tmean it.”
If the words had meaning, if they kept pouring into the air swirling between us, then, surely, they would be real. After all, Icouldfeel his emotions. And the conviction with which he had attempted to convince me that I wasn’t capable of protecting him was weak.
Of course, I could protect him.
I was always meant to do it.
So it was written. So let it be done.
He pushed on my shoulders. “Stop it, Rose.”
“No.”
