Page 53 of Love Me

At my desk, I open my laptop and finish my coursework, desperate for some distraction.

When Celine slips inside my room, it takes everything in me to ignore her. Her presence fills up the space, creating in me an insatiable longing.

She puts a plate with a steak and a salad on the side in front of me.

“It’s not poisoned.”

“I know, because you can’t live without me.”

She’s silent as she pushes the plate to me. I give in and eat.

A groan slips free. “Thank you. It tastes amazing.”

While I watch her, her eyes sweep around the room. There isn’t much to see. A king-sized bed, a desk, an ensuite bathroom, and a dressing room. There’s nothing personal in here. I learned my lesson the hard way.

“How was it?” I ask.

“How was what?”

“Being sent away to London. You know… boarding school.”

“The weather was awful, and the people… so self-absorbed. I was used to milder weather and a sky full of stars. And you.”

I take another bite to avoid interrupting her.

“But I found my family there too, and I became a person who doesn’t need anyone else. I thought you pushed me away because I relied on you so much.”

“Sky… you can believe anything you want, but never that… I did that––”

“I’m not interested in what you have to say.”

“Then how can you understand my reasoning?”

“I was your weakness. You got rid of your weakness.”

I push myself off the chair and grip her hands. “And I would do it again a thousand times over.”

“You bastard.”

She tries to wiggle out of my hold when I say, “I had to protect you.”

“Whatever you tell yourself to feel better.”

I drag a hand down my face. The pain I see in her eyes kills me.

“What about me, huh, husband?” She lifts her eyes, her chin quivering. “What about asking me what I wanted because anything would have been better than that. You were not only my lover, soul mate, and best friend; you were my family and you just…”

She gulps, and I inch toward her.

“Don’t you dare touch me! I hate you. I hate you so much. You are poison, and I am so done drinking it like it’s my life elixir.”

She yanks the door open, and my hurt turns to anger. “I betray the memory of the girl I’ve loved all my life, every damn time, because I want this version of you just as fucking much.”

“Jealous of yourself, Sky?”

He taunts me. That damn sinful mouth curls up as if he enjoys this constant torment he subjects me to.

“Go fuck yourself, because you’re never fucking me again,” I retort.

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