Page 3 of A Coffee Away

“Why did you do it?”

I furrowed my brow and eyed him.

He held out the canvas. “Why destroy it?”

I cleared my throat. “Because I’m tired of hating myself.” I raked my hair back. “Sorry. Don’t mind me.”

I grabbed the canvas, but he didn’t let go and dragged me with it.

He looked straight at me, then down at my chest and back up.

His gaze was like an intimate touch. Exploratory. Slow.

A flush of warmth swept through me at the thought of his hands roaming my skin.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Why do you hate yourself?”

I looked away, swallowing hard.

He gripped my chin, pulling me closer so my face was level with his.

Adrenaline rushed through me, and I pressed my palm against his chest, pushing him away. “What the fuck?”

He let go. “Fuck. Sorry. Force of habit.”

Force of habit?

Did this guy just go around grabbing people’s faces? Even being as handsome as he was, I didn’t know shit about him. He could be a killer for all I knew.

I shifted away from him.

“I’m not going to harm you. I swear. I just want to understand.” He pointed at the canvas. “This is beautiful. The way the slashes go across the portrait shows rage. Frustration. But there is love in there. I can still see your goodness. Your smile. The care in your gaze.” He looked at me. “This is you, right?”

I shrugged. “It’s garbage.”

He raised an eyebrow and curved his mouth into a smile.

I crossed my arms. “Are you laughing at me?”

He shook his head. “I find it funny how I see a masterpiece and you see trash.”

I huffed. “It’s all about perspective.”

He tilted his head. “Will you tell me about it?”

My breath caught, and I dug my nails into my skin. What did he want to know about? Why?

I stared at him, and my chest lightened. There was softness in his gaze. Sincerity.

I exhaled and relaxed my arms. “About what?”

He put the canvas between his legs and scooted closer, his intense eyes upon me. “About how the hell a soul like yours got shattered. About who made you feel this way. About who hurt you enough to make you hate yourself.”

I gasped at his words. My strong façade crumbled as this complete stranger saw right through me.

“You don’t know me.” My eyes glazed.

Why did he care about me? A nobody.