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The second I was done, I snatched the papers out of the nurse’s hand and shoved between the two of them. Despite the shaking in my legs, I managed to march out the door at a relatively quick pace.
“Marek!” Misha’s long strides caught up to me in no time.
I whirled on him, slamming the handful of paperwork into his chest. “I don’t need fucking NA or rehab! I’m not a goddamn addict!”
“Then what are we doing here?”
“Fuck you!” I pushed away from him and continued to the front doors. Groping my pocket for my phone, I swore under my breath when I remembered I left it at home. So much for ordering an Uber. Looked like I was in for a long ass walk. That ought to be fun while the world still felt like I was walking on an angle.
“My car is this way,” Misha said when we emerged on the sidewalk.
I ignored him and turned in the opposite direction. Maybe my old roommate would let me come back and stay with him for a while, or Brooklyn, except I didn’t want to get Misha on her trail after he fucking murdered Jude. Either way, I could be in and out of Misha’s place in no time flat. After the eight hours it would take me to fucking walk there.
“Where are you going?” Misha asked.
I still didn’t answer, mostly because I had no idea. I was acting on instinct and had no intention of answering, or stopping, until the next words out of his mouth brought me to a screeching halt.
“Were you with him?” Misha called out behind me.
My heart stuttered in my chest. So weweregoing there, discussing things that were bound to lead to an argument afterhesaid we wouldn’t do that. And in public, no less. Was Mr. Cool, Calm, and Collected really about to make a fucking scene in front of the hospital in one of the nicest parts of the city?
“Was it your choice?” Misha continued, assuming my answer. “Or did he force you to be there?”
“What the fuck does it matter?” I snapped, whirling on him. I was surprised to see he’d gotten so close without me paying attention, but then again, my frazzled brain wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders.
He took a step closer, his hard gaze fixed on me, probably seeing me for the first time.Reallyseeing me, the leech that had been siphoning off so much of his time and money and energy. And for what? What had he fucking gotten for his efforts?
When he answered, his voice was one notch above a growl. “Because your answer dictates whether he dies right now or a month from now. Either way, I will fucking kill him if it’s the last thing I do.”
“It was my choice,” I said, glaring up at him, like it would do any good. On top of everything else, he even glared better than I did. “So do what you want with that information.”
“I thought you hated him?”
“I do.”
“Then why were you there?”
“Why do you fucking care?! We’re nothing to each other except an easy lay whenever one of us is in the mood. You can get that anywhere. Go back to Hayden for all I fucking care. He’ll be thrilled.”
“Are youthatstubborn that you can’t see what’s right in front of you? Or is this another one of your attempts to drive me away? Was it starting to get too real? Now you have to ruin everything to prove to yourself that you’re undeserving of the life I’ve tried to give you?” Despite the fact he was clenching his hands, he didn’t look angry anymore. He looked… hurt.
Oh God.The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew where it was going now, why he was more devastated than furious.
Don’t say it… Don’t…
“I love you, Marek.”
Fuck!
I shook my head, tearing my gaze away from his. “Don’t. Don’t say shit like that.”
“Like what? That I love you? Would you prefer I lie to you? Treat you like you’re only worthy of attention when I want to fuck?” Unshed tears pricked my eyes and I turned to leave but he seized my arms and dragged me against him, our chests pressing together. “That may be how you see yourself, how you see the world, but that’snothow I see you. I’ve never seen you as anything less than the amazing, fucking infuriating man that you are.”
“Stop, Misha… Just stop, already!” I shook my head again, trying to tune him out and free myself from his hands. I didn’t want him to leave but I couldn’t listen to him lie to me either. I’m sure he thought he meant it, but I knew, deep down, he’d come to his senses one day. Hehadto. He was too smartnotto. It was better to end it now before he wasted any more of his life on a pity project.
“No, I won’t,” he said, letting go of my arms only to capture my face between his hands. “I love you, Marek. I’ll tell you every day, morning, noon, and night, until you believe me. I’ll shout it from the rooftops. Carve it into trees. Whatever it takes for you to finally believe me.”
I pried his hands off my face and took a step backward. “Stay away from me, Misha. Please. Just let me go.”
