Page 67 of Boards & Betrayal

She hesitated, and I could see the struggle in her eyes—the battle between wanting to confide in me and wanting to keep her walls up.

"It's just... it's personal," she finally said.

"Personal?" My voice rose again. "Who the fuck am I, then? Personal. Fucking hell, Ally. If someone's threatening you, it's not just personal—it's dangerous."

Ally looked down at the floor, her silence speaking volumes. My concern for her grew with every passing second.

"Who is it?" I asked again, trying to keep my voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath the surface.

She didn't answer.

"Damn it!" I slammed my fist against the wall in frustration. The sound echoed through the room, startling both of us.

Ally flinched but still refused to speak.

My anger flared hotter than ever before. How could she keep this from me? How could she not see that all I wanted was to protect her?

"You can't keep doing this," I said harshly. "You can't shut me out every time things get tough."

"I'm not shutting you out," she insisted weakly.

"Then prove it!" I shouted back.

The room fell silent except for the sound of our heavy breathing.

"Don't you care about me? Or am I a fucking idiot because I fucking love you?" My voice cracked, raw and desperate.

Her eyes snapped to mine, wide and surprised. The silence stretched between us, heavy and loaded with unsaid words.

"I fucking love you," I repeated, the weight of those words sinking in. I knew it was true, even if it felt like tearing open an old wound to admit it.

Ally's eyes softened, the defiance melting away. "I love you too," she murmured. "Maybe I shouldn't, but…"

I reached out, touching her chin gently, so she looked at me. Her skin was warm under my fingers, grounding me in the moment.

"I can't do this if you don't talk to me," I said, my voice steady but pleading. "I can't help?—"

"Maybe I don't want your help," she snapped, pulling away from my touch.

"Ally," I said tightly, trying to keep my frustration in check. "Then what is this? What are we? If you can't trust me with what's going on with you, with fucking Janet and Nick and now this? Why are you keeping me out of this?"

"I'm trying to protect you," she said softly, her eyes glittering with unshed tears.

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Protect me? How could she think that keeping secrets would protect me?

I took a step closer, my voice gentler now. "From what?"

She looked away, biting her lip as if she were holding back something painful. "From everything," she whispered.

"Ally," I said again, reaching for her hand. "We can't protect each other by shutting each other out."

She hesitated before finally meeting my gaze again. The tears that had been threatening to fall now spilled over, tracing silent paths down her cheeks.

"I don't know how to do this," she admitted quietly.

My heart ached at her vulnerability. "You gotta let me in, sweetheart," I said. Practically begged, like a goddamn pussy. "But only if you're honest with me."

"If I tell you, do you promise not to react?" Ally's voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed her fear.

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