Page 38 of Waste of Worth

“Are you going to give me an actual reason why you went AWOL on me?”

Yeah, there it was.

“Things got busy and—”

Karen held up a single hand, stopping him from saying more. “You’re lying. That’s an excuse, not a real reason. I’m not interested in having a deflection, Dino.”

He didn’t know how to give her the truth.

He didn’t want to expose her to the monster she invited into her bed or the life he kept hidden across town.

It was the most selfish thing he could do, and Dino knew that all too well. He should give her the chance to decide if his lifestyle and the choices that came with it was something she wanted to be involved in, even if her only involvement was just limited to her time spent in private with him.

But he couldn’t do it.

Because what if she shut him out?

What if she pushed him away?

What if he lost the sunlight she brought to him?

That wasn’t a risk Dino was willing to take.

He also didn’t want to lie, so he gave her the next best thing.

“Sometimes I’m going to need to do that,” Dino explained. “Go, and not give a reason. Stay away, and then show back up when it’s good again. I can’t give you more than what I offer, Karen, and what I’m offering is what you’ve already seen. So if you’re not happy with it, or you want more than what I’ve given already, let me know. I only need to know where you stand so I can do what I need to do.”

All over again, she watched him.

Silent and pensive.

Sad and still.

She wasn’t like him, and maybe that was the hardest part. Karen’s days were full of her bright, easy-going personality, and the light that always seemed to follow her around. Dino was the exact opposite—blackened at his edges, a coldness constantly seeping from his exterior that matched the tar in his soul.

He was a shadow.

Walked over.

Passed by.

Looked beyond.

He couldn’t begin to understand how they were ever supposed to work, given how entirely different their worlds were from the outside looking in.

Dino still wanted to try.

Karen took a deep breath, her arms crossing over her chest as she looked him over again. “You’re aware that half of the hallway are probably standing with their ears pressed to the door, listening to you right now.”

Dino managed a smile for her. “They’re not the ones keeping me out here.”

“True. This is probably the most entertainment they’ve had in a while.”

“You only have to tell me to leave, Karen.”

“I’m aware, Dino.”

She reached out and grabbed the wine and chocolate from his hands instead. Then, she stepped to the side, and let him in.