Page 95 of The Sun and Her Star

“Over here.” I walk and sit down on my couch. My apartment is a bigger than average compared to most, but it feels tiny with Graham here. He fills the room with so much frantic energy. And he looks perfectly at peace. Like the eye of the hurricane, he’s calm while he wreaks mayhem and havoc all around him.

“So, tell me again why you’re here,” I say.

He leans forward. “I told you, I’m starting school. And I have a couple of projects I’m working on.” I try to hide my surprise. That’s the last thing I expected to hear.

“Well, that’s nice. Good for you,” I say with a pleasant smile, that doesn’t reach my eyes.

He laughs. “Don’t give me that half smile, Apollo. You can be real with me.”

I tug on the hem of my black tank top and smooth my hands over my hair self-consciously. Why should I care how I look? It doesn’t matter if he thinks I’m attractive.

He stops laughing, and his expression grows serious. He leans forward, rests his elbow on his thighs, so his hands dangle between his spread legs.

“So, what’s up with what’s his name?”

“Luc—”

“I know his fucking name, Apollo. I just don’t want to say or hear it,” he says stonily.

“He’s myboyfriend, Graham,” I say, wide-eyed at his harsh tone.

“Really?” he grits out.

“Yes,” I say, but my voice quavers.

In a flash, he’s up and walking toward me. My heart jumps into my throat, and I scramble from my couch and hustle into my kitchen.

I grab the first utensil my fingers find from my drawer and hold it in front of me. “I told you to stay over there.”

He stops and raises his eyebrows. “Are you going to stab me with your spatula?” He scoffs but stays where he is—his expression perplexed. “Why are you afraid of me? I’ve never laid a hand on you.”

“Yes, Iknow,” I say through my gritted jaw. “I remember very well, how you kicked me out of your apartment for daring to lay a hand onyou.”

“Apollo, I’m sorry. It wasn’t the right time,” he says softly.

“But, now it is?” I ask sarcastically.

“Yes, well … it has been for a while, but I thought you were happy and settled. I didn’t want to disturb that.”

“Well, what’s changed?”

“I know that I hurt you. I know that a lot of time has passed. But time has done nothing to diminish my feelings for you. I know that when we were a part of each other’s lives, you were happy. You told me that night how you felt about me. What you wanted from me. And I couldn’t give it to you then.”

“But you can now? Is that what you’re going to say next?” I shout, the flashes of pain from that night nearly choking me. I slam the spatula down so hard the handle breaks. His face pales as I stalk toward him. He doesn’t back away but his shoulders tense as I approach.

“You’re waltzing back into my life to tell me that you’re done fucking the world, and you’re breaking up with your girlfriend who everyone is expecting you to propose to. Isthatright?” I ask, standing toe to toe with him now.

“No, that’s not right.” His jaw is clenched and I know I’ve pissed him off. I don’t care.

“I want to tell you about Amber.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I already know about Amber,” I hiss.

“What do you mean?” He looks surprised and wary.

“Imean,you took her on a third date.”

“Is that supposed to mean something?

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