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“Alessia.”
“Uh, yes?” I blinked over at her. “Jay asked you if you wanted a drink.”
“Oh no, thank you.”
He went over to the kitchen area and I realized Tristan now had a direct line of sight to me. His eyes burned into the side of my face but I refused to look at him.
I couldn’t.
Not without risking my emotions betraying me. It was taking everything in me not to rush to his side and touch him, to make sure he was really here and okay.
Instead, I pressed my hands into the couch beneath my thighs, physically restraining myself.
Bella cast me a funny look, mouthing, ‘Are you okay?’
Lips pursed, I nodded.
Thankfully, Jay returned with drinks and the three of them fell back into easy conversation. While I sat there…
Wishing the couch would swallow me whole.
* * *
After sixty painful minutes,Tristan announced he needed to rest. I’d never been more grateful to hear those words.
We got up to leave, and Bella, in true Bella fashion, leaned down to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Get better soon,” she said. “Jay’s good company but he’s not you, Tris.” She flashed my bodyguard a playful wink.
“I’ll stop by soon, Cap.” Jay held out his fist and Tristan bumped it.
“Goodbye,” I managed to force out over the lump in my throat as I followed Jay toward the door.
“Alessia, can we talk for a second?”
No.
No!
I smothered the whimper caught in my throat. I didn’t want to do this, not here, not now.
“Go ahead.” Bella gave me a reassuring smile. “Me and Jay will wait in the car.”
They left without another word.
“Please,” he said.
Slowly, I turned, my heart crashing violently against my chest, my palms sweating.
“How are you?”
“I… I’m okay.”
“Look at me, please,” he urged.
My eyes lifted and I immediately wished I hadn’t. Regret shone in his eyes. Regret and guilt.
“I am so sorry, for everything.”
“S-sorry?”
