Page 20 of Always Mine

“Hasta pronto.”

She shouldn’t come back soon. She just shouldn’t. Feeling horrible, she walked back to the den, closed the door again and sat on the chair.

Diego’s color was back after having eaten. His dark eyes focused on her. “Annie, seriously, what’s this all about? Why do you need time away from Sanders?”

“Because when I saw you again…I…I’m not sure how to explain it.”

“Try.”

Frustrated, she blurted out, “Everything resurfaced. I stayed away from Westwood for years so I could move on from you. From what happened. And I was okay when I got back. Pathways is very distracting. And so was Seth.”

“Do you love him?”

“Of course I do.”

He arched a black brow. “Not like you loved me, though.”

“I never loved another guy like I loved you. Purposely. I couldn’t risk it.”

“I’m so sorry I hurt you that much.”

“I know I hurt you just as much.”

They were both quiet. Then he said, “If all our feelings are back, what are we gonna do?”

“I know we have to stop seeing each other. But every time I do, I come back to you.”

“If I could, I’d chase you all over town.”

She laughed. Then she sobered. “I owe Seth.” She looked down at her hand.

He tracked her gaze. “You took it off.”

“It seemed obscene to visit you with it on.”

“Are you gonna leave it off?”

“No, if I saw him at school and I wasn’t wearing it, he’d notice and be hurt.”

“What if I’m hurt that you wear it?”

“We don’t owe each other anything.”

“How can you say thatquerida?”

“Like I said, I fought hard to get myself under control when we split.”

“So did I.”

“Ha! Every time I saw you, you had a different girl on your arm.”

“I had superficial relationships.”

“Even with Suzy Suffolks?”

He got a devilish look in his eye.

“You went straight to her every time we broke up.”

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