Page 10 of Love Me

He hands me the letter, and I rip it open.

I wrote her a damn novel, and she responds with two sentences.

This is your second chance. Don’t make me regret it.

“And?” his voice rings with nervous excitement.

I show it to him, and his eyes gleam.

Two years of preparation. All the sleepless nights, bruises, muscle aches, and mental warfare has paid off.

He takes my hand in his. “This is the start of the battle, not the end. I’m proud of you.”

Cillian is already on the phone, planning our return to Greenville. I leave him to it, my heart aching for a deeper connection with my father, who is away more than present.

The moon accompanies me back to the dorm, my treasured silent companion.

Mia is dangling a swiped bottle of wine when Hunter crashes into my room.

“Stole this right from under our father’s nose,” Mia says.

“When the student surpasses the master.” Hunter grins at her.

“To us.”

We drain the bottle and fall to our backs on my bed.

A tremor rocks me. It must be the adrenaline crashing, not the thought of returning and… No. I suppressed those thoughts for two years. He has no power over my dead heart, my bruised body, or my tormented mind.

“I thought you were ready,” Hunter says, disappointment thick in his voice.

In a flash, I am on top of him, my elbow pressing into his neck.

“Say that again.”

He rolls us, and now he’s on top of me, his hands on my shoulders, pinning me to the mattress.

“That damn heart of yours.”

He shoves off me and stands at the foot of the bed. We both pant heavily. I pull myself into a sitting position and drop my head. Shame envelops me.

“Guys, quit it. She is ready. Don’t be a dick, Hunter,” Mia says.

“He threw you away like a piece of garbage, and he still has a hold on you,” he sneers, sending me a displeased look.

Rage ignites in me to the point I’m seeing black. I march to him and punch him in his throat. He bends over, crouching, but quickly recovers. “Bloody hell.”

I jab a finger at his chest. “That topic is off limits.”

“Then you won’t have a problem selling us as a couple in love.”

Hunter doesn’t know. I made a vow. I am married spiritually. And even though Kaden discarded me as if we didn’t bind ourselves for life, it doesn’t make it easier. But I must pull this off.

“And you keep it in your pants.”

He storms out, and Mia hugs me. “It’ll all be okay. It’s me. You don’t have to stop yourself from purging the hurt out.”

I hug my best friend back, desperate for comfort, and sink to the floor.

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