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I expect him to say something at this.
Or at least show some sort of reaction.
Shock maybe. Or amusement that I’d even say something like this.
But he doesn’t.
So I keep going. “Because that’s what you’re doing, aren’t you? You’re protecting me.”
Again, I give him a chance to laugh at me.
Any second now he’s going to smirk and say something mean. He’s going to say that I’ve lost my mind and that I should stop embarrassing myself.
But once again, he doesn’t.
All he does is work his jaw back and forth, a pulse beating on his cheek, as he stares and stares at me. And I…
I feel angry. Again.
But now that I havesomeconfirmation about my suspicions, I also feel… breathless.
My heart’s racing like a crazy bird and I swallow thickly.
“You realize,” I begin slowly, my chest heaving, “that this is crazy, right? You realize that the idea ofyou, Reign Marcus Davidson, protecting me, Echo Ann Adler, is fucking insane. It’s beyond fucking insane. It’s unreal. It’s unnatural. It’s fucking science fiction.”
Okay, I should calm down.
Or I’ll punch him in the face.Andpass out with how fast my heart’s beating.
“I don’t need you to protect me,” I continue in a calmer voice. “I don’t even know why you’d want to. It’s me and it’s you. We hate each other. We make each other sick. If anything, I need protection from you. Not from my ex-boyfriend. I can handle my ex-boyfriend, okay? So I don’t need your protection. What I need is…”
“The only thing youneedto do is stay the fuck away from him,” he says when I trail off, my mind churning.
“But you just said that he is spiraling.”
“Yeah and I can handle him.”
“You can’t.”
“I —”
“You’re not his friend anymore.”
His nostrils flare at the reminder. “And you’re not his fucking girlfriend.”
I take in my own deep, painful breath at that. “You had two years.Twoyears, Reign, and you haven’t been able to.” It looks like he’s going to say something but I don’t let him. “And it’s not your fault. I’m sorry that I suggested that. I really am. I know you’re a good friend. I mean, I’d know, right? I’ve seen you two together. I’ve put up with your hate for years because you always thought I was beneath him. So please believe me when I tell you you’re a good friend. But maybe we need to try something different. Which is why I shouldn’t stay away from him. Which is whyIhave to do something. I have to step in and save Lucas.”
“Save Lucas.”
“Yes.” I nod with determination. “I think I have to fix what I broke.”
Exactly.
Lucas is in pain, isn’t he?
Like me, Lucas is still dealing with what happened two years ago.
Hell, like his own best friend. Well, ex-best friend now.
