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Thad flicks a sharp glare at him before softening his gaze on me. “I get that you needed some time to come to terms with everything. I’m even willing to put this all behind us and forgive you for”—he waves a hand—“whatever’s happening here. But it’s time to come home.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Damon growls, but I see it—the suspicion—and when I don’t move back to his side, his battle-ready posture all but crumples.
Thad’s impatience flares, and I’m utterly helpless as every beautiful thing Damon and I have created shatters one realization at a time.
I glance between their faces, consumed by doubt and terrified to make the wrong move.
“Kate’s promised me her hand, and I’m not leaving this island without her,” Thad quips.
I clutch my stomach.Can’t. Breathe.
Damon’s eyes go wide with shock. “You’re… engaged?”
His arms fall limply as he moves back one step. “No. Tell me this is joke.”
God, how I wish I could.
Tears flow freely, dripping from my chin as I reach for him, but he shakes his head, backing away further.
“The only joke here is whatever feelings you think she has for you,” Thad pipes up.
“Stop,” I hiss at Thad. “Just stop, please.”
I’m grasping for a hold on my thoughts, but they’re completely out of control. I can’t rationalize the situation when Damon’s staring at me as though I’ve gutted him.
Thick, hot panic floods my system.
He scrubs his palm over his chin. “I’ll admit, you’re quite the actress.”
“None of what has happened between us was an act,” I scramble to say.
His hands rest on his hips as he looks toward the night sky, laughing, though it sounds more like a scoff. “It’s alright, Kate.”
The world stills only a moment. He can’t possibly mean that… But like an idiot, I dare to hope.
“This is my fault,” he says, turning to me once more. I stagger a step at the raw pain etched into every fine line on his face. “I should’ve never gotten involved.”
He may as well have struck me. “You told me you wanted to be left alone, and I insisted on seeing you anyway.”
When Damon speaks again, his question is devastatingly fragile. “How could you do this to me after knowing what I’ve been through?”
Bile churns in my belly at the implication of his ex-wife.
Moments ago, I was ready to hand him my heart, but he’s shutting down on me faster than I can recover. I’m standing in front of a train with the break lines in my palm, and I know words aren’t going to be enough to repair the damage I’ve caused.
“We were on a break,” I say.
When he gives me his back, I’m seconds from completely losing it.
“I’m not like her, Damon. I would never do that to you,” I cry, eyes raw as they’re ravaged with tears.
He has to understand. Hehastoo.
But his scorned gaze flicks to Thad, then back to me. “Except that you did.”
Whatever warmth, joy, and care he once felt for me slowly leeches from his face.
“You told me I couldn’t put every man in the same box based off one man’s actions. Why am I not afforded the same courtesy?”
