Page 109 of Give Me Redemption

“I’m good,” I reply, checking my reflection in the mirror. I don’t look good.

I’m a mess.

He clears his throat. “We should get out of here.”

“Yeah,” I say. I wash my hands and dry them with a towel before walking toward him.

But my heart doesn’t want to be strong right now, and I can’t fake how I really feel. I’m messed up over this. My face cracks, and I choke on a sob.

Monroe wraps his arm around me and embraces me. I grip his shirt and let my heart have its moment.

It’s breaking, and I wish I could die.

“It’s okay,” he says. “You did what you had to.”

I shake my head as my knees bend, threatening to give out on me, and I’ve never felt this broken.

“Everyone’s gone,” he says. He swoops me up into his arms and my friend carries me out.

__________

I sit on my couch with a blanket over my shoulders. Monroe left a few hours ago. He poured me a glass of wine and told me to call him if I needed anything. I’m grateful for him. I’m embarrassed of my breakdown, but it couldn’t be helped. I stare at the wall, thinking about the last forty-eight hours.

The sweet moments I had with Jace. The way he touched me, setting my skin on fire. I’ve never felt love like that.

I’ll never feel it again.

Why does anyone want to fall in love?

If they ever felt the pain, they’d never do it.

I reach down and grab the pill bottle on the table. Slipping two out, I chase them with my wine before sitting back on the couch.

I’ll never forget him.

I’ll nevereverforget him.

He hates me now, and that’s justified.

I hurt him in the worst way, and I understand that.

But I’ll never get over him.

_____________

Loud pounding wakes me up, and I blink my eyes, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. And then my heart remembers. I sit up and rub my forehead as the pain swims in my chest.

God, will this ever go away?

The banging continues, and I realize it’s my door. Shit.

I toss the throw off of me and walk around the couch. On my tiptoes, I look through the peephole.

I sink back down and shut my eyes as I lean my head on the door. Swallowing my heart because it just came up through my throat, I jump when Jace says, “Open the door, Dalton.”

I hang my head, giving it a shake as I look down at the floor. I take a deep breath before unlocking the door and twisting the knob.

As soon as it opens, Jace barges in, almost knocking me down. I gently shut the door and lean against it.

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