AllFreeNovel
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Like not being here, the one time I should’ve been.
“You’re making this a goodbye, and I don’t want to leave you.”
“I don’t think I want you to leave me either. But doing this now isn’t right.”
He moves for me with purpose, walking to the kitchen island. As his hands spread across either side of my face, I close my eyes, an unbearable ache spreading like wildfire throughout my entire body. “Let me help you, Scarlet.”
My shoulders sag as I give in to the emotions building within me, and I shake my head. A tear slides down my cheek. “But it isn’t right. I need to make it right.”
He grasps my face harder, tightening his hold. Desperate. “You’re blaming yourself.”
I stare through him, the pain in my chest unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. “I know.” I cry. “And I’ll blame you too if you stay.”
He inches back, his eyes searching my face. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Give me time.” I turn my head into his bandaged hand and kiss the exposed skin at the base of his thumb. “It won’t be forever.”
He shakes his head, stepping closer. “You’re lying.”
My eyes swim with tears as I stare up at him. “I don’t want it to be a lie.”
“You want me to leave?”
My head tilts. “You should leave. There’s a difference.”
“Let me stay, just tonight,” he begs.
I frown at the panic in his voice. And then it hits me. The realisation. I didn’t think about him. Didn’t consider how he would feel—I was only thinking about myself. I smooth my hand over his cheek, giving him the warmest smile I can find within myself. “Oh, Lance. You’re going to be fine.”
“I don’t care about me.” He pulls my hand away from his face, holding me closer. “Stop doing that.”
“Lance—”
“Scar, baby, please.” His forehead touches mine, eyes scrunched tight. His tongue slashes out, wetting his lips as he finds his thoughts. “Don’t do this—”
I block him out and speak over him. “You didn’t let me down. Not once.”
“Scar—”
“Thank you for being everything you promised you would be.”
“No.”
“I’m going to go upstairs, and I want you to leave. Don’t be mad. Don’t drive out of here angry. I had nothing in my heart when you walked in here, but it’s beating so damn hard for you standing here now.”
His eyes peel open and lock on mine.
“It’s got to mean something,” I whisper through my tears. I close the distance, brushing my lips across his until he catches them in a full kiss. I push into him, taking everything. The feel of him, the smell, his mouth, the way his hands wrap around me, I take it all.
When we eventually pull away, my lips are sore. Lance’s eyes are heavy, maybe a little defeated, and it sends a pang of sadness through my chest.
“I’m sorry.” And I mean it from the bottom of my broken heart.
He smooths his hand across the back of my neck, not letting me go as his lips brush my temple, lingering as he rasps, “It’s okay.”
It takes everything inside of me to pull out of his reach and walk out of the kitchen, and with every step I take, the worse I feel.
I turn and start up the staircase, needing to be as far away from him as possible.
