Page 80 of Silent Damage

Gabe’s eyes are filled with love as he licks my fingers, and I can’t help but fall into those eyes and—

A cold streak travels down my back.

My throat closes, and for a moment I’m convinced I’m suffocating.

What have I done?

My body boils.

Breathing is hard.

It’s so hot.

I pull out of him and leap off the bed, rubbing my temples.

“What is it?” Gabe asks.

I don’t know.

The answers that float in my mind don’t make sense. “I just need some air.”

I grab my clothes and rush out, hurrying to get dressed and leave, but Gabe appears in the doorway with a sheet wrapped around his waist and a terrified expression on his face.

“Are you mad at me?” he asks.

The sound of his voice—

I wasn’t prepared for it. He sounds so sad, and it makes me want to wrap him in my arms.

What is wrong with me?

“No. No, I—”

I pause. Trying to think of something to say that won’t make what I am about to do even worse. “It’s a lot. That’s all. It’s not you. It’s…I need to wrap my head around this. It’s not you, Gabe.”

All I want to do is kiss him again.

“I just need some air.”

“Okay,” he whispers.

With my shoes on, I make my way to the door but stop.

It hits me. Like a punch in the gut, it hits me how this all just happened.

“Thank you,” I say.

Gabe’s face, once shattered, pulls back together a little. “For what?” he asks.

“For apologizing.”

Gabe’s mouth falls open. “I meant it.”

I can barely get the words out. “I know.”

Then I run out.

Chapter 19