Page 113 of Ballrooms & Blackmail

She was silent. Unmoving.

“I was wrong. It was cowardice,” he said. “I thought you’d turn away.”

The words echoed through the empty hall—a simple truth.

Yet, it was one that didn’t change anything.

Because she didn’t move.

“I should have trusted you,” he rasped.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

He saw it and felt something inside him break open.

Because there it was. The look he’d feared. The one he’d expected.

He’d broken her.

A sad smile touched his mouth. “If you send me away, I’ll go.” His voice was gravel. “But I’d rather spend the rest of my life earning your forgiveness than another minute pretending I don’t belong to you.”

For a long moment neither of them moved.

Then, heart shattered, he rose.

Preparing to leave.

Preparing to lose her forever.

Only for her hand to close around his wrist.

“You’re a fool,” she whispered.

His breath caught. “Probably."

“No." Her voice broke. “Definitely, my love.”

And before he could mistake her tears for rejection again, she stepped into his arms?—

I slam the book shut because that’s far too fucking close to home, and it makes me wonder if I should have?—

My phone buzzes.

I ignore it.

Then it buzzes again.

And again. And fucking again.

“Christ,” I mutter, picking it up and looking at the screen.

PASCAL: Thorn, this is your daily reminder you’re being an idiot.

PASCAL: Snap out of your moping and don’t make the biggest mistake of your life.

Then,

PASCAL: I hope you’re not jerking off.