Page 66 of Boards & Betrayal

"I'm sorry," I finally said, reaching out to gently touch her arm. "We'll figure something out."

She gave me a small, grateful smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks," she whispered.

The tension between us eased slightly as we stood there in the quiet morning light, both knowing that this was just one more obstacle in our already complicated lives. But for now, it was enough just to be there for each other—to face whatever came next together.

I reached out and pulled Ally into a hug. She hesitated for a moment before melting into me, her small frame fitting perfectly against my chest. Her hair smelled like lavender and something uniquely her. I buried my nose in it, inhaling deeply. The scent calmed me, grounding me in the present moment.

Her arms wrapped around my waist, gripping tightly as if she feared I might vanish. I felt the rise and fall of her breaths, each one shaky and uneven. I wanted to take all her worries away, to shield her from the world’s harshness.

My hands moved up and down her back in slow, soothing strokes. I could feel the tension in her muscles begin to ease under my touch. She rested her head against my shoulder, and for a brief moment, everything felt right.

Pulling back slightly, I cupped her face in my hands. Her blue eyes met mine, searching for reassurance. My thumb brushed over her cheek when I noticed a faint discoloration just below her left eye.

A frown creased my brow as I gently tilted her face towards the light. “What happened here?” I asked, my voice tinged with concern.

Ally flinched slightly but didn’t pull away. “It’s nothing,” she murmured, trying to look down.

“Doesn’t look like nothing,” I said, more insistent this time.

Ally finally looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and something else—something fragile that made my chest tighten. “It’s not your job to fix everything,” she whispered.

“The fuck it is,” I replied, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “Where the fuck did that come from? Tell me what happened, and don't bullshit me, Ally."

"Let it go," she said.

"Like it's so fucking easy?" I asked. "Ally, you better fucking tell me —"

"Tom, I said, drop it."

I reached out, my fingers grazing her arm. "I swear, Ally?—"

"You'll what?" she snapped, pulling away from me. "Are you going to threaten me too?"

Her words hit me like a slap. "Who the fuck threatened you?" I demanded, my voice rising with each syllable.

Ally's eyes darted away, her lips pressing into a thin line. She crossed her arms over her chest defensively, refusing to meet my gaze.

"Tell me," I insisted, stepping closer. "Who did it?"

"It's none of your business," she shot back, her voice trembling slightly. "Just drop it, Tom."

"Like hell I will," I growled, my frustration boiling over. "If someone’s messing with you, I need to know."

Her silence only fueled my anger. I could feel it bubbling up inside me, threatening to spill over. Why wouldn't she just tell me? What was she hiding?

"Goddammit, Ally," I said through gritted teeth. "I'm trying to help you."

"I don't need your help," she retorted, her eyes flashing with defiance.

"Clearly you do if you're getting threatened," I shot back.

Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought she might actually tell me. But then she shook her head and turned away, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Why won't you let me in?" I asked, my voice softer now, but no less intense. "Why won't you trust me?"

"It's not about trust," she said quietly. "It's about... it's complicated."

"Complicated how?" I demanded.

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