Page 69 of Wanna Bet?

"I almost didn't." The words landed hard and Jace watched as she flinched.

Good. Maybe she should. Maybe he was tired of being the only one hurting.

They stood several feet apart. Neither willing to close the distance.

Finally Jace looked at her. "Why me?" The question came out rough.

Myah blinked. "What?"

"Why me?"

Her face fell immediately. "Jace—"

"Why me?" His voice rose slightly.

Not shouting.

Not even close.

But loud enough to reveal the fracture underneath. "I just want to know."

The silence stretched until it became unbearable. Jace stared at her, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. "You make me so damn angry."

"I know."

"No." He shook his head, taking another step toward her. "I don't think you do."

She lifted her chin, tears still clinging to her lashes. "Then tell me."

"I gave you everything." His voice cracked. "Every piece of me. Every stupid hope I had."

She let out some sort of sigh. Halfway between a gasp and a cry. Like he was the one that hurt her.

Jace laughed bitterly. "Do you have any idea what it feels like wondering if every smile… every touch... every 'I miss you' was just another lie?"

"It wasn't."

"You don't get to say that."

"It wasn't!" Her voice echoed through the apartment. For the first time since he'd arrived, she looked angry. "You don't get to tell me what I felt."

His eyes narrowed. "You don't get to rewrite this because you're guilty."

"I'm not rewriting anything." She took a step closer. "I screwed up. I lied. I hid it. I'll regret that for the rest of my life."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"I was terrified!"

"You shouldn’t have done it then.”

"I know!" Her words cracked like glass. "But don't stand there and act like none of this mattered to me."

Jace scoffed. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I expect you to look at me."

"I am looking at you."