Page 86 of Heart Sick Hate

“Two reasons.” I look down at her. “First, you’re fucking havoc, just like Goldilocks. Walking into the bears' house and messing it all up.”

Her lips part like she’s about to argue, so I stop and spin her to face me, planting my finger over her mouth to silence her.

“You are, trust me. In my head. My bones. You rip shit to shreds. You walked in eight years ago and made a mess I didn’t see coming, and every moment since, you might as well have just played in it because I can’t escape you.”

Her eyes go wide, and I’ve probably said too much, but I can’t help it.

“And the other reason?” she asks.

“The real reason…” I grip the back of her head, pulling my forehead to hers. “Your eyes.”

“So, not my hair?”

I shake my head. “Your hair is your darkness, your light. You can change that like you ink your skin and make it whatever version you want them to see. But your eyes...” I can’t help but run my hands down her cheeks. “They’re your truth. You can’t hide from me in them. They tell me everything.”

Echo blinks at me, sparkling gold orbs that reveal my destiny.

“What are they telling you now?”

Dangerous questions when she probably doesn’t realize it. Just like her offer that hangs around my neck. Promises I won’t let her escape now that she’s made them.

“That you’re the end of me.”

She presses her lips together and takes a quick breath through her nose. And when her lashes flutter again, a sheen coats them. Sadness creates distance between the girl I’m falling for and the hard exterior she projects to the world.

“Why aren’t you sick of me yet, Crew?”

“Sick of you?” My eyebrows pinch.

“Why didn’t you get over me after that first time? You already took what I asked you to. Why aren’t you tired of me now?”

If only she could read my mind, she’d have all the answers she needs to rock her wild mind to sleep at night.

“Because it’s not possible.”

“Because I’m with Rhett, right?” Her words catch in her throat. “Or because you still see innocence in me you’d like to ruin? Because I’m not special or interesting. And I’ve been a bitch to you the majority of our friendship—the car ride being a prime example. So why are you still holding on?”

Something hot boils up. For all the confidence this girl displays, her insecurity makes me mad as hell.

Gripping her chin, I tilt her face up. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.”

“I will when you stop lying to yourself, Crew.” She rolls her shoulders back, the bit of flare that burns bright still shining, even when she’s revealing a weakness. “You don’t hold onto things, especially women. How long until I’m just like them—disposable? Rhett said—”

“I don’t give a fuck what Rhett said,” I cut her off, realizing where this is really coming from.

While Echo might be fooled like most people are by my brother, there are sides to him she’ll never understand. And he’s feeding whatever doubt swirls in her pretty little head.

“Trust me. You don’t want the answer to these questions right now.”

“Why not?”

“You aren’t ready for them.”

Her expression falls. Light might as well leave her eyes, and the loss of it sinks something inside me.

Before she can ask more, I grab her hand. “Let’s go. This trip is supposed to be fun.”

Surprisingly, she doesn’t pull away from me. She doesn’t even ask me to answer her, and it’s for the better. Her silence might be defeat but it’s for the best in this moment. She’s not ready for what her rant has stirred up.

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