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Closing my eyes, I pull in a deep breath. Why is every encounter with him so exhausting?
Because you want to devour him and smack him at the same time.
Because you hate that you love him.
I’ve just returned to my soup when I hear a knock at the main entrance. It’s not his dad again, is it? Shuffling in the living room tells me Tristan is moving to answer it.
“Where is she?” someone growls.
Pierce! Shit.
“Whoa. Calm down,” Tristan says.
“Don’t tell me to calm down. Isabel!”
My stomach is in knots as I brace for war and enter the room.
“Hey, Pierce,” I say as casually as possible.
His face reddens with anger. “Why aren’t you at work? I saw your car in the parking lot. Is it so you can fool around withhim?” he hisses, waving at Tristan.
What the hell? Is he for real?
“No. I’m not feeling well.” I don’t like the tremor of fear in my voice.
I’ve never seen him so angry and I take a step back.
“You’re sick,” he scoffs. “Right. Yousaidyou were going to be busy today. Busy fucking him, you meant.”
“Hey!” Tristan barks, moving between us. “Don’t talk to her that way.”
“Stay out of it, asshole. You’ve done enough damage.”
“How about you just leave? In fact…” Tristan looks at me. “Do you want out? You can end this right now. Just say the word.”
Out. Such a simple word. A flutter of relief washes through me at the thought of being free. That should be enough of an answer right there.
I glance back at Pierce who’s seething. His threat the other day lingers in the toxic air between us. Tristan did four years for someone he loved. What am I willing to do?
I take another step back and don’t realize how much I’m shaking until Tristan’s gaze lands on my hands. He focuses back on Pierce, blocking him from view.
“You should go,” he says. “Now.”
“You can’t make me. You don’t even officially live here.”
“I do, actually. Ask the State of Pennsylvania. Go or we’ll call the police.”
“Do it,” Pierce taunts. “I’d be happy to tell them about all the parole violations I’ve witnessed.”
“I haven’t done shit. You have no evidence.”
“No?”
Before I know what’s happening, Tristan is staggering back.
“What about this fight?” Pierce sneers, shoving him.
“Stop it!” I yell, but Pierce doesn’t even hear me.
