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“Try again,” he says. Eyes glaring so bright I could wince.
How is he not seeing it? I love him, but I guess that’s the thing about it, right? Where there is strength, there has to be weakness.
It’s clear in this moment that’s what I am. His vulnerability, his one flaw, is me. Cole has my whole attention now, but not in the way he expects.
My legs are as heavy as rocks.
“If you can’t…” I pause, not understanding what’s tumbling out of my mouth more than anyone else. My mind is working faster, processing things more quickly. “If you can’t understand that I want you.Ilove you, then…” Then what?
I knew what.
My throat bobs, saliva thick and gummy as I wet my lips. Those words have a mind of their own as they once again find a way to escape.
The decision made before I have time to take it back.
“If you can’t figure out that one thing, then…” I hesitate again and Cole’s eyes ignite further, pushing… daring me to continue.
I do. Too far down this road to stop now.
He’s toxic and I’m corrupted. Together we’re lethal.
“Touch her and I’ll break your fucking neck,” he snarls not talking to me.
Cole’s gaze splinters much like my insides are doing. I know he’s saying this to Eli to stall because he can sense what’s trying to force its way out of my mouth. He’s panicking but so am I. That place inside my heart is trying to protect me all over again.
“We should break up.” The words just tumble out. My voice is too hoarse to be recognizable as they fall.
Silence blankets the room like lightning does to a sharpened object. Intense but deadly, then still. Quiet.
The words have come, and I should be strong, empowered, right? Then why do I feel so weak?
I think they hit me the hardest and I’m the one who spoke them.
“Come on, Rory, you don’t mean that,” Finn rushes in as the atmosphere stays as clear as fog. “It’s been a tough night for us all. Let’s take a break, cool off and we can come back tomorrow with a clearer mindset. Yeah?”
Is Finn right? He’s not, my head screams right back, even as my heart disagrees. Can’t Cole see I instantly want to take it back?
And then when I’m right about to do just that…
“You’re right.”
My head snaps up so sharply it makes me dizzy but that’s not anything new. The throbbing that’s already been there since I spit out the words now compete with what Iceman’s said.
I’m right?
Cole’s jawbone is so sharp right now he could cut steel with it. The bluntness of it all holds my focus as he repeats himself like I hadn’t heard him the first time.
“You’re right, Princess.”
He’s as closed off as I’d been when those words stumbled out.
A roguish spot above his chin twitches, and my eyes move, settling on his mouth. It jumps again along the corner and my heart rate drops with each new tic.
The horror and shock wrought like my beaten chest as he shuffles past us all without another word. Leaving as guiltlessly as if we’d been discussing the weather and not our relationship.
Both Finn and Eli chase him down while I stay rooted. Hailey comes over to comfort me, but if she’s saying anything, it doesn’t register. My whole attention glued to where he’d been a moment ago.
That spot is as empty as his voice before he left.
