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“Because I love you,” he says with passion evident in every syllable. “I’m crazy in love with you.”
Oh. He’s not one to play games. If he feels it, he says it. It doesn’t get any more tender than that. I absorb his words, let them enter my heart, hoping they’ll chase away the darkness.
The darkness remains, but he just gave my anger a run for its money. How can I stay mad after that declaration?
“I can explain everything, Mila. Will you let me?”
“Yes, okay.” I owe it to myself to give us a chance.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been here for you,” he says. “I didn’t know you were alone. I thought your parents were still here.”
I shake my head in the negative. I’m going to start crying again. It doesn’t matter. He already knows I couldn’t stop crying this morning. If he truly loves me, he’ll love me anyway, warts and all, nonstop crying and all.
“I didn’t know you’d left the penthouse,” he says.
“Haven’t you been there?”
“No. After I returned home from my overseas mission, I grabbed myself a hotel. I knew Ryker wouldn’t welcome me.”
I cradle my hand to my chest. “After... everything, I stayed with my parents when I was released from the hospital. They helped me get set up here.” I wipe away the stray tears that insist on falling.
Zane’s already disturbed expression deepens even more. He doesn’t ignore my random tears the way Ryker did.
“I thought you might return to Idaho with them while you recovered.”
“That’s my next step. I’ll be returning to Idaho in a week or two,” I say firmly. Not sure it comes across as firm when combined with my weepiness.
“Then why stay here at all?” he asks.
“I’ve been asking myself the same question.” I press my sleeves to my face, solving the problem of having to constantly call attention to my tears. Sort of.
Zane doesn’t politely avert his eyes. Oh no, he stares at me without apology.
“When did your parents leave?” he asks.
“They stayed for a little over a week. Mom came down with the flu, so Dad took her home. He has it now too. They’re not doing too well. They’ve had a few complications, but they’re going to be okay.”
Surprise washes over his features and his entire body goes still, like his blood froze in his veins. “What?” he says in a harsh whisper. “You’ve been alone all this time?”
I look down at the ground again. “Yeah.” My tears dot the sidewalk. I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole. I feel so pathetic. I raise my chin, trying to put on a brave face.
“I’m so sorry, Mila. I had no idea.”
I nod. “I know.”
He studies me, his expression growing darker. He sees what I’m trying to hide, and I feel so vulnerable.
After a few moments of awkward silence, he asks, “How’s your hand?”
“It hurts,” I say bluntly. “All the time.”
“But it’s healing?”
“Yeah, I guess so. I see the doctor again in a couple of days.” There goes my shaky voice. It’s obvious I’m a mess, that I can’t control my emotions. “You know what, Zane? I’m fine. I really am.”
“I can see that,” he says, deadpan. He doesn’t say it sarcastically. Instead, his features are infused with worry.
“At least, I’m going to be fine. I might not be able to stop crying, but I have a path forward.”
