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“It’s just not enough,” I responded, even though I knew that wouldn’t make sense to him. His face grew determined.
“I would love you in any way that you needed."
“I think you would try,” I said gently. “But that wouldn’t be fair to either of us.”
He stumbled to his feet, swaying like he’d been stabbed in the heart. “I will find a way to get you back. To prove what we have is enough! I will never give up on us."
Clark stalked out the door, slamming it behind him.
I sat in the aching silence he’d left for a long, long time.
And then I went home.
A compulsion I couldn’t resist.
It was dark in the house, so dark I was sure he wasn’t home. And I jumped when the living room light clicked on and there he was, sitting on the couch. Relief in his gaze.
Beautiful as always.
And a liar.
“It’s all true, isn’t it?” I whispered as we locked eyes.
He stared at me warily, exhaustion marring his perfect features. I watched as the wariness faded into resolution.
“Yes. And I’d do it all again,” he swore. “I’d do anything to keep you.”
I nodded, a sick thrill rushing through me that didn’t make sense.
I’d do anything to keep you…
No one had ever seen every part of me and vowed to never let me go.
“I’ll sleep in the guest room,” I told him, feeling like it was the right thing to do, even though every sick part of me wanted to climb up in his lap and have him wrap his arms around me.
He nodded, his green eyes glittering unfathomably.
I wandered down the hall to one of the guest rooms, closing the door behind me and leaning my forehead on the cold wood. Did I know him? Could I ever trust him?
What else had he done?
After a minute, I stumbled to the bed and collapsed on it, an ache in my bones…and in my fucking soul.
I woke up in bed with Ari, his whole body wrapped around me, his head buried in my neck. It wasn’t surprising. If he was willing to move states to get me, a little old door wasn’t going to hold him back.
I listened to his steady rhythmic breathing and wondered…how I was going to say goodbye.
CHAPTER22
ARI
Ilay in the dark room, my gaze fixated on her still form. Her presence was both a comfort and a torment.
I’d let her go into the guest room, knowing I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from bringing her back toourroom in the dead of night. Now that I’d had so many nights with her wrapped in my arms…I couldn’t sleep without her.
She was hurt, and it was my fault.
But I wouldn't change a damn thing.
