a's

ade no matter how much I tried to push them away. Every syllable, every flicker of emotion

ed together, and the emails I attempted to respond to made n

g-this loss of control over my own emotions. Xavier had always done that to me. One look, o

e me straighten. Emily peeked insi

inside. "You've been staring at yo

lie felt heavy

't press. Instead, she placed a folder on my desk. "This is for the b

teful for the

," she added carefully. "He's canceled

my chest tigh

r to say more, then shook her head.

behind her, leaving

ned inside me, but I forced myself to stay put. He had made h

ger I could keep waiting for h

er's

but it did nothing to dull the

sharp and unyielding. "You don't get

g to hurt her. I was trying to protec

way to the surface every time I got too close t

me feel

footsteps approached, and I didn't

dropping into the chair across from

rling the amber li

l me what happened, or should I just assume yo

e desk with a dull thud.

lshi

in my jaw, but

ten. I know you think keeping Lena at arm's length is pro

tter thi

"Because from where I'm sitting

retched be

You're going to lose he

eep, twisting into

t was for

a's

around, my patience had wor

ined strides, past curious glances and whispered murmurs.

n't k

ie loosened, whiskey glass in hand. His eyes met mine, surprise f

be here," he sa

into fists at my

ip of whiskey was

to do this, Xavier. You don't get to pull me in, only

hed, but he s

ontinued, stepping closer. "Bette

s gaze-pain, regret, some

tted, voice barel

o the gut. I had expected a

e cracked. "Why won

slowly, setting

I saw it all-the torment, the fear, the wei

w." His voice wa

thickened, heavy

barely grazing his. "

e might finally let his walls crack just enough

contact was

back as if physical distance could erase what

caped my lips. "Y

flashed in his

lk away from this-walk away

n't re

hed, thick and

heel and walked out, sla

er's

lamming shut echoed lon

se after her, to tell her she

ipping the edge of my desk like it wa

an a man haunted by gho

right thing, a small voice whispered the trut