AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She forced herself to remain calm, to not display the terrifying trembles that she knew wanted to escape. Griffin looked pissed. Tight lips. Narrow eyes. Rigid stance. She’d seen the look on Darrian too many times to count. The only difference now was she knew Griffin would never physically lash out. Vocally, well, a man could only hold in his patience for so long. She knew that. She didn’t fault him for it either. She’d let him release the anger bubbling to the surface and not flinch while he did so.
“I baked. I contemplated. I’ve decided to leave.”
Which was mostly true. Minus the part where she received the most devastating news.
“You can’t leave,” Griffin croaked as if he were on the verge of tears.
If he cried, she’d break down into a puddle.
“You would’ve let me leave weeks ago without fighting me about it. I’d appreciate the same sentiment here.”
Her voice was cold and methodic. Nothing that displayed the turmoil going on inside her. But she had to remain stoic or she’d lose all the bravery she mustered waiting for him to return home. It would’ve been easier to run while he was gone. No defending herself. No explaining why. No one standing in her way.
“Is it about the videos? I haven’t found them yet, but I will. Duke and I will find them. I know the town meeting tonight wasn’t something you expected, and I understand why you didn’t show up. I didn’t even want to be there. You don’t have to leave. I don’t—” He groaned, his voice hitching. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“This has nothing to do with the videos.”
She had sworn to herself she wouldn’t lie to him anymore. That was no lie.
But she also couldn’t divulge some of the truths.
“I love you, Eve. I want to build a life with you. I want you to tell me the real reason you’re leaving. Stop lying to me.”
Her bottom lip betrayed her, trembling at his confession.
She wasn’t lying. Everything she’d said up to this point was the truth.
But she’d never tell him the real reason for leaving.
Now her eyes were going to be the traitors, building up with tears. Letting him know how difficult this was. How she was holding back. She blinked a few times to push them away.
“I haven’t lied to you. I don’t owe you any explanations. I think, deep down, you knew I’d never stay. So let’s not make this harder than it has to be.”
A muscle bunched in his cheek, he clenched his jaw hard. His eyes went from shattered to furious in a split second.
“Okay.”
Then he turned around, his shoulders taut, his steps solid, and walked out, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
She expected more than just okay.Neededmore than a stupid okay.
Balling her hands into fists, she pressed her nails as hard as she could into her palms to stop herself from screaming. From crying in anguish at how unfair life could be.
He didn’t fight for her. For them. She knew he wouldn’t. Because he was an honest man. He had let her have her space, her freedom from the beginning. If she told him she wanted to leave, he would respect that.
It didn’t make it any easier.
She took one last look around, set the alarm, and locked the door. She told herself not to look at his house as she backed out of the driveway, but she failed. He was nowhere in sight.
Maybe he thought she wouldn’t do it. She didn’t the other time.
Well, this was different.
She kept her eyes straight ahead as she drove out of town. Twenty minutes later, she had to pull over to the side of the road. The tears streaming down were impeding her vision. Sobs tore out of her. Then came the screams she held in for so long. She even hit the steering wheel a few times before cursing at the pain in her hands.
Night descended. She had no idea how long she sat on the side of the road waiting to calm down.
Her eyes glided to the manilla envelope on the seat. With shaky hands, she pulled the photos out again. Snapshots of Griffin, Juliet, and Bryce. Around town. In their house. Driving unaware someone had their eyes set on them. A yellow sticky note attached to one of Griffin.
