AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Do not cry. Do not fucking cry, Juliet.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he says in a low voice, his eyes on his feet. “I’m just dealing with some shit.”
I cross my arms. “Okay, and I’m trying to figure out how to help.”
“It’s not something you can help with.”
I don’t know why his words are like a punch to the gut, but they are. He doesn’t owe me anything. It’s not like we’re together. I don’t know what the hell we are or how to even begin to label it, but it is very clear this doesn’t go beyond the surface level for him.
I swallow back the unwelcome emotion trying to break free, and when his face falls, I know he’s noticed it.
“Juliet, come here.”
I shake my head and wrap my arms around myself. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
I don’t want to be comforted by him. Not when he completely shot me down for attempting to do the same for him.
He gets to his feet and closes the space between us.
“Hey, I’m sorry, okay?” His hands rest on each of my cheeks and force me to look at him. “I’m an asshole.”
Yes, you are. A massive fucking asshole.
I don’t say anything. I can’t. I know as soon as I give any sort of response, the tears I’m holding in will be set free.
He presses his lips to my temple and whispers against my skin. “I’m sorry.”
He continues kissing along the side of my face and down my jawline, sending a chill down my body as I go limp against him.
“Ryan—“
I want to tell him to stop, but I know I won’t.
“Thank you for caring enough to ask me what’s wrong,” he breathes out, his lips brushing against mine.
“I just wanted to help,” I finally whisper, and his face softens. “We don’t know anything about each other.”
I reach up so that my palm rests on his cheek, “I want to know you, Ryan.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ryan
Her words stop me in my tracks.
“I want to know you, Ryan.”
Telling her about Wren would mean letting her in on a completely new level, and that wasn’t something I was sure I was ready for.
It was a part of my life that I didn’t share with many people.
Juliet’s beautiful blue eyes were glassy, and looking into them made my heart clench. The last thing I want to do is make her fucking sad.
I grab her hand and lead her back to the bed.
“Okay. Let’s get to know each other, then.”
I may not be able to give her everything she wants from me, but I can try to give her this.
