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He shakes his head.
“Tristan!”
He pulls away, and I grip his arm in frustration. But there’s no reward when I force him back again. What I get is catastrophic pain that chokes the air from my lungs. Oh my god.
Stunned, I lean forward and wrap my arms around him. I have no idea what’s going on, but I know this person needs to be loved for five damn seconds. His arms tighten around me, and I settle closer until I can enclose him completely. By the way he holds on, I can’t help but wonder when he’s last been embraced, sheltered and protected. Ever?
“I don’t think I can do it, Iz,” he whispers.
I pull tighter. “Do what?”
He doesn’t respond, and chills course down my spine.
When he still doesn’t say anything, I close my eyes and fight the urge to bury my face in his neck. I shouldn’t be touching him. Hell, I shouldn’t even betalkingto him after everything but…
“You should go,” he says faintly. “You’ll be late.”
I force in a deep breath, unnerved by the strange panic that settles over me at the prospect of leaving him alone.
“I’m already late,” I say.
He pulls away, and I don’t like how wrong it feels without him in my arms.
What’s wrong with you, Isabel? You hate this person.
I should. I do. I just…
He’s right. I should go.
I grab my travel mug and laptop bag before I get lost in the familiar pull this troubled boy has over me. I’ve come so far since shedding him from my life. As much as it hurt to be rejected in high school, he probably did me a favor. That anger not only fueled my independence and fight for a better future, it protected me when all hell broke loose and he became the most hated person in Suncrest Valley. Apparently, he still is, so it’s probably good we’re keeping our distance.
“You going to be okay?” I ask when I reach the door. It still doesn’t feel right to walk away after what just happened. Maybe that’s exactly why I need to run as far and as fast as I can.
“I’ll be fine,” he says, but it’s hard to believe that when he won’t meet my eyes.
“Okay.”
I don’t really have a choice, do I? I have my own life, my own challenges and responsibilities. He has his and made it clear he doesn’t want me involved in any part of them.
“I… if you need anything, call me,” I say, knowing he won’t.
“Sure. Thanks.”
He still doesn’t look at me when I finally pull open the door and escape. It’s for the best. I can’t help him. He doesn’t want it anyway.
That’s not the real problem.
No.
The truth is, it felt too good to hold him.My skin still tingles from the contact with his warm, hard body. My heart still races from the scent of his bodywash and feel of his solid arms folded around me. I would have stayed in that position all day with him… then hated myself for it.
My phone rings when I reach the parking lot, and I answer it, happy for the distraction. I have no idea how I’m supposed to get through the day with a start like this.
“Hey, beautiful,” Pierce says.
“Hey. You’re up early.”
Guilt spears through me, and I don’t know why. I didn’t do anything wrong. Comforted a friend. Not even a friend. A roommate—a boarder, really. Anyone would have done the same.
