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“No!” I turn away and reach for my clothes, only to realize my sweatpants are still in the bathroom.Fuck!
I jolt at the pressure on my arm and spin back in terror.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
“Hey. It’s okay,” Iz says, holding up her hands. She takes a hesitant step forward like she’s approaching a wounded animal. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
Breathing hard, I track her every movement with acute vigilance. My pulse pounds in my ears, and I instinctively step back when she moves again. She stops, pain clouding her face at my reaction. For me or for her? It doesn’t matter. I will myself to calm down.
Breathe, Tristan. What the hell is wrong with you?
“I mean it,” she says softly. “You’re right. If you’re not ready to talk about it, then it’s not the right time.”
I shake my head, annoyed by the entire thing. This shit is exactly why I don’t want totalk.There’s nothing to say. No words will fix what happened. No words will make the nightmares stop and the reflection I hate disappear. Words are a waste of energy better used for survival.
“I just… can’t,” I say, pleading with her.
She offers a sad smile. “I know. It’s okay.”
Is it? Maybe. I don’t know.
I close my eyes and breathe through the ache in my chest.
“Good night, Tristan,” she says gently.
“Good night,” I force out.
But neither of us leaves, and when I open my eyes to find the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, I don’t want her to. I don’t want to be alone right now, and the longer we stand in silence, the more the energy in the room starts to shift.
Her eyes change as she scans me. Mine must too, because suddenly the fire lighting up my veins isn’t from anger. It’s not fear making me rigid and alert. It’s something far more dangerous, far more tempting and addictive.
And this time I can’t bring myself to run.
