Page 76 of Endgame

“I told you,” I breathed. “Iwantto do this with you.”

“WellIcan’t do this withyou,” Rourke choked out.

“With me?” Rejection coursed through me. What was I – a piece of shit? “Fuck you, Rourke.”

“Fuck me,” he agreed grimly. “Exactly, Six. Fuck me and you’ll regret it.” He shook his head and exhaled heavily. “You deserve…not me.” Turning around, Rourke walked over to his bedroom door and reached for the key in his pocket.

I didn’t want him to go back downstairs to her.

I wanted him to stay right here withme.

“Is this because of what happened to your sister?” I blurted out, desperate, just as Rourke was about to walk out. Was it? Was he leaving me here because he thought I didn’t want this?

He froze in the doorway of his room, back stiffened.

“I know she was abused,” I quickly continued to say, desperate to keep him here with me. “By a family member… who said it was consensual,” I added, feeling flustered. “This? You and me? Iwantthis, Rourke.” I swallowed deeply. “I just wanted you to know that…if that’s why you’re walking away from me.”

Moving like lightening, Rourke turned and stalked towards me, not stopping until he was leaning over me.

“Let me be very clear about something,” he whispered, his hands on either side of my body, blue eyes locked on mine. “I stopped Britt from beating on you tonight because I don’t need the hassle.” He leaned closer. “Football starts back on Monday and I don’t need my father interfering with my team because ofyou. You’re a complication for me, Six. A fucking nuisance.” His eyes were blood shot and full of rage as he spoke. “And I stoppedthisfrom happening because I don’t want you. Because fucking you would be a horriblemistake.”

“Ihateyou,” I squeezed out, forcing myself not to cry.

Rolling off his bed, I barreled past him and ran to my room. I refused to let this boy see me bleed.

The pain inside of me his cruel words had provoked had turned pensive and poisoned but I would burn in hell before letting him see just how badly he had hurt me.

Rourke

I FUCKED UP. I screwed up real bad, and managed to catch feelings in the process.

Six’s face?

Those silver eyes of hers, all full of pain and unshed tears?

I couldn’t stop seeing them.

I’d never been a hero with words, but my panic last night had led me to say some pretty fucking unforgivable things to her.

I hadfeelingsfor her.

I feltemotionsfor Six.

Last night, I realized that.

I think deep down, I’d known it for a while, but the other night when she asked me to tell her I loved her? Shit, that did something to me.Sixdid something to me. And then when I saw her all cut up and bruised… hell, if that hadn’t pulled at something in my chest.

Don’t fucking ask me what feelings I was experiencing, because I had no idea of how to explain it, but there was no way I could take her now.

If I did, if I jumped in with Six, I had a feeling I wouldn’t be coming back out.

That scared me.

I didn’t want this.

I wasn’t ready.

Goddamn...

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