Page 55 of Give In

Grinned.

Like the world was perfect when she of all people knew it wasnot.

Maybe because she’d been too damn exhausted to keep her mask in place, I’d gotten a small glimpse of the real her. The one who’d broken my fucking heart by telling me she’d never been carried before. The one who’d curled up to me like I fucking deserved an angel in my bed. The one who refused to drown in life’s bullshit, and instead was able to look relaxed and carefree as I drove her back to her fucking slum.

If she could still smile and laugh like that, how could I be the one to ruin her? And I would. It was inevitable. I could hold off as long as possible, but eventually I’d have to be me. And I’d make her miserable.

I was controlling.

Manipulative.

Ruthless.

Selfish.

She already thought I was an asshole…

But she hadn’t seen anything yet.

For once, I was trying to do the right thing by letting her be.

That’s what I told myself every damn day in what had been the longest week of my life.

I hadn’t gone to Sinners. I’d only spoken to her once, and that was because jealousy had burned away my control when I’d seen her smiling at her laptop. After that, I hadn’t even looked at her.

When I’d gone to get coffee, I’d had no clue she’d be there. It’d been a punch to the gut and a rush to my dick. I hadn’t been able to resist walking behind her, needing to be close. My eyes had landed on her screen, and I’d been relieved to see her checking out apartments. Her neighborhood was a mess and her apartment a shining beacon of dilapidation and danger.

But then I’d seen the address.

She was planning on moving states away.

Guilt had been plain on her face, adding to the stress that marred the perfection. It’d been clear her move would be sooner rather than later.

And it fucking killed.

When I got to my office, I couldn’t sit. I could barely stop myself from throwing something.

I sent out an email cancelling classes for the day before packing my bag, my gaze straying constantly to the clock and door.

If Eden didn’t come, I’d find her.

I’d always find her.

*******

Eden

There was no avoiding Professor Caine. I may have been moving, but I didn’t want to go out in a blaze of gossip and humiliation.

And I didn’t, even for one moment, doubt his willingness to make the kind of scene that would ensure that happened.

When I got to his office and saw him holding his bag, I nearly slumped with relief.

Good. This’ll be fast.

I hesitantly rapped the door before taking a single step in. “Hey—”

“We’re going to my house.”

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