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“Like a therapist?”
“Yeah.”
She wiped again at her cheek, turning away from him. “No. But maybe I should. Maybe that would help.”
He hated to see her cry. It broke him into pieces. He reached out to touch her shoulder, but then stopped, second-guessing himself. Finally, he pulled his hand back, hoping she didn’t notice. “I think it would.”
“Okay.” She curled into herself. “I’ll call tomorrow.”
He rolled over so he wouldn’t see her anymore. Wouldn’t be tempted to touch her. Pull her close to him. He had to let it go. He didn’t have the courage to tell her how he felt, and he didn’t dare show her how he felt. He was a coward, and he would probably end up alone because of it.
But that was better than being rejected by Nara. That would shatter him.
Chapter 26
Nara woke the next day with a massive headache. Stupid crying last night. Stupid conversation with Emperor Derek, and stupid reactions to his stupid words. Derek wasn’t in bed, and she figured he’d gotten up and gone to work. She put on her slippers and padded into the kitchen to grab a bottle of her life’s blood. She opened the fridge and snagged a twelve-ounce Diet Coke. Maybe that would calm the throbbing pain behind her eyes.
For one glorious moment she thought he was telling her that he loved her. That his feelings for her had grown over the last week they’d been together. She thought he was confessing.
That was the dumbest thing in the world, because he didn’t mean that he was in love with her. He meant that he loved her…as a sister. The word gave her a bitter taste in her mouth. He thought of her as a sibling. Like Brielle. Why had she thought that maybe he had more feelings for her? Must have been that stupid flirting and kissing when Brielle was out on the porch with them. It was late at night, and she’d been feeling bold.
And Derek was probably wondering what the heck was wrong with her. Why she’d be acting so stupid. What a fool she was.
She shook her head and drank her Diet Coke. The carbonation stung her throat and made her nose tingle. She didn’t care. She needed it if she was going to survive the day. Not only did she have to spend the day pretending it was okay that Derek thought of her as a sister, today was also the day her father would find out if the cancer had spread.
Brielle shuffled into the kitchen, her hair in a messy bun, a bathrobe on. She moaned and plopped down on one of the kitchen barstools at the counter. “I’m doomed.”
“What happened?”
She closed her eyes and dramatically let her head fall onto her arms. “Levi texted me.”
“Levi? The jerk who dumped you?” Nara sucked in a breath and flinched at her words. That might not have been the nicest way to put that. Why were her words always faster than her brain?
“Yes,” she said, her voice muffled.
“What did he say?”
Brielle lifted her head. “He wants to get back together.”
“No,” Nara said, her mouth dropping. “He didn’t!”
Brielle’s face contorted. “He did. And you know what’s worse?”
“Don’t tell me you said yes?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. But, Nara, I want to. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“You’re human.” Nara stepped to her and put her hand on her shoulder. “You cared for him.”
“I loved him.” The conflict inside her was plain on her face. “But when he broke up with me, it destroyed me. I don’t want to risk that again. Yet, I can’t stop thinking about him. I don’t know what to do.”
“If you don’t ever see him again, will you be okay with that?”
She sniffed. “I don’t know.”
“Why did he break up with you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know that either.”
