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What else can I do but what she demands?
* * *
Hours after Marissa has left,I’m still sitting here. My coffee is cold. My thoughts are quiet. I feel like I’ve been absent for a while, my body sitting here, but my soul has vacated. All at once, I snap back.
Maybe I can call Sam?
No. I don’t want to mess up his life any more than I already have. But my phone is out of my pocket and I’m dialling before I can stop myself. I need to talk to him.
And say what, exactly?
“Hello?” His voice sends an electric jolt through me, followed by warmth.
“Sam?”
“Chloe?” He sounds worried about me and that thought does strange things to my insides. “Where are you?”
“Can we meet up?” Thoughts of our last meeting flit through my mind. “Someplace public?” I don’t trust myself to be alone with him. I want him in every sense of the word, but sleeping with him right now would be a mistake. I’m sure of that. “Please?” The pleading note in my voice sounds like I’m begging. Maybe I am. Ineedto see him.
He’s silent on the other end.
I tap my foot, nerves getting the best of me. He has no reason to say yes. Hell, it would be smarter of him to say no.
“Sure.”
His guarded tone tells me he doesn’t trust me, and he’s right not to. I’m the worst person for him to trust, and eventually, he’ll find out the truth. Right now, though, I need to see him, to talk to him, even though I have no idea what I’m going to say.
“Great,” I force myself to smile, even though he can’t see it. “I know a café. I’ll text you the address.”
* * *
Half hour later,Sam walks through the door. My heart skips a beat as he scans the room. His gaze finds me and warmth lights in his eyes. An echo of heat sears through my belly and I try to squash the feelings. I have no right to have feelings for him. He walks right up to me and sits opposite me at the little table for two.
“Are you okay?” The concern in his eyes leaves me aching inside.
I shake my head no, but my mouth automatically says yes.
The corners of his mouth twitch. “That’s not a confusing response at all,” he says, his humour putting me at ease in a way no one else does.
I grin. “I’m sorry. Things are…complicated.” That’s an understatement.
“I’m here if you need to talk. I’ve always been here for you, Chloe.” He pats my hand affectionally before withdrawing. I stare at my hand, feeling the reassuring sensation of his fingers long after he’s pulled away. What if I tell him everything?
I can’t. If I tell him the whole truth, Jake will burn.
What kind of sister chooses a man she loves over her own flesh-and-blood brother?
“If you’re in trouble, Chloe, I can help.” His warm eyes are on my face and my lips part, threatening to spill the whole truth, but I can’t do it. I can’t tell him.
He can’t help me, can he?
I stare at him.
Can anyone help me?
At this point, I’m in so deep—and so is Jake—I’m pretty sure there’s no hope for either of us.
“Chloe?”
