Page 38 of Leah

“I know exactly what I’m saying.”

I shook my head. “You’re deluded.”

Now he was offended. “I’m deluded?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“Because you’re telling me you want more!”

“So?”

“So we’ve been talking for, like, ten minutes and you’ve just sprung it on me! It’s out ofnowhere.”

“I didn’t mean to spring it on you, but every second after this moment would have been wasted if I kept quiet. I don’t want to let another day go by.”

“You’ve allowedthree yearsof zero communication to go by.”

His nostrils flared as he retorted, “Don’t start with that. I tried to talk to you. You changed your number, you moved out of this house, and you never answered my letters. My schedule was beyond hectic. I couldn’t get away, and when I wanted to, I figured your silence was a way to shut me out.”

“You’re right,” I agreed heartily. “Itwasto shut you out. I told you I wanted us to see each other again when we’ve moved on—”

“We’re never going to move on!” he cut in, steadfastly. “I know you want me. I can see it now. Nothing’s changed. You’re lying to yourself.”

I’m lying to myself?

Fuck this shit.

I wished I could turn these emotions off. I hated that he could see through me better than I could! I balled my hands into fists, digging my nails into the skin as my anger tore through me. I blinked back tears as I told him, “You can’t just come here after three years and offer more, Carter. That’s not how it works. You’re too late.”

“I’m too late,” he repeated back to me, shocked.

“Yes,” I answered firmly. “You’re too late.”

He tensed his jaw and shut his eyes for a long moment. I knew what he was doing. He was retreating. He’d just opened up and I knocked him down straight away. It hurt to do that. I almost wanted to take the words back just to save him from feeling pained, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t going to fall for him all over again.

I resisted.

He opened his eyes and took in a deep breath. Without batting me another eye, he suddenly looked into the study room, his brows pinching together in anger. I followed his gaze and sawRome standing there, watching the scene unfold for who knows how long. Why the hell was he eavesdropping? He didn’t look at me once. His eyes pierced through Carter’s head, and he looked pissed.

Some unspoken communication passed between them, and by then I realized I was calling it a night. I slipped into the room, and went to walk past Rome, when he lightly grabbed me by the arm.

“Don’t leave,” he told me quietly. “Stay the night. I promise I’ll keep Carter away from you. I just know how much Marlena misses you, and she’s doing up a big breakfast in the morning—”

“I know already,” I cut in, hardly hearing my own voice. “I’m not leaving.”

“Leah—”

“Just let me go,” I pleaded, fighting back the lump in my throat.

When he let go of me, I left the room. I looked at Carter over my shoulder just as I stepped out. He was gripping the balcony banister with his hands, his head down, his hair over his forehead.

He looked broken.

Eleven

Carter

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