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I’ve always noticed the little things where Elliot is concerned.
Like the mask he wears, the front he projects to protect himself—his secrets.
We drive in comfortable silence, the smell of the pastries Elliot grabbed from the local bakers on the way out of town wafting through his car.
The fact he thought to grab us something to eat warms my heart and has my mind running away with itself again.
We pass a sign for Thame, and I frown over at him.
“Thame?”
“Yeah, it’s a small village along the River Thame. Me and Oak found it once. The town is nothing special, but we found this cool abandoned church overlooking the river.”
“You’re taking me to an abandoned church?” A shiver runs down my spine.
“Don’t you trust me?” He squeezes my hand.
“I do.”
“You shouldn’t,” he whispers so quietly I barely hear him.
“Elliot, I?—”
“Don’t. Not yet. Can we just have today? Then we can deal with everything else.”
“Of course.”
“Have you ever brought anyone else out here?”
I’m fishing, I can’t help it.
I want to be strong and confident and sure of myself, but it doesn’t come easy. Especially not after his blatant rejection of me all those weeks ago at the party.
I’m not like the rest of the girls at All Hallows’ vying for the Heirs’ attention.
I never have been, and I never will be.
And the truth is, I don’t want to be.
I’m me.
Abigail Bancroft.
I have scars and trauma and insecurities. And I want someone to love and accept me in spite of that.
“Like who?” Elliot casts me a dark look.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, but I don’t understand why you’re asking. You know I haven’t.”
“I didn’t mean…” I stop myself and take a deep breath. “This is all new to me too, Elliot. I’m way out of my depth here.”
“Stop overthinking it,” he says as if it’s that easy. “I want you, Red. I thought I made that pretty clear. And yeah, things are complicated but right now, I’m here with you because I want to be here.”
“Okay.” I offer him a small nod.
Elliot turns off the main road and takes a dirt track through the woods.
