Page 83 of Eternal

He takes a step. “It’s not all of a sudden.”

“You hid it well,” I scoff.

“Have you considered that maybe that’s because I was still figuring it out?” He holds my waist, pulling me closer. “You think this is easy for me either, Teal? I was raised to hate everything about you, and you were the sweetest fucking thing to me. You irritate the hell out of me. But that’s the whole point. You dig, and you dig, and you find this person that no one else knows exists. You see what a fucking disaster I am, and you’re still here.”

“So, you need me to validate you?”

“No. I just need you.” His fingers grab me harder. “And don’t ask me why because I don’t fucking know. You drive me out of my mind. Control is the only thing that’s ever mattered to me, and you’re all over the place. I couldn’t contain you if I tried. But I need that. We crossed that line, and now…”

He releases me to wipe his palms down his face.

“You need the crazy chick,” I finish his sentence.

“Don’t call yourself crazy.”

“It’s what I am.” I shrug. “Ask anyone. Ask your father, who probably told you to stay the fuck away from me all those years.”

He frowns. “I’ll deal with my father.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“You don’t have to ask me for anything. Just stop fighting this for one second and stand still.”

“Still?” I roll my shoulders back, and he nods.

“With me.”

“I can’t be with you, not really.”

“Because of Jase?” His jaw tightens.

“Him… and so many other reasons. I can barely be with myself half the time, Declan. I’m broken.”

“Not to me.”

“I—” I can’t finish my sentence.

Looking up into his eyes, I actually believe him. Standing in the middle of his partially formed metal forest, we’re two people with so many pieces missing from them that we might as well be a part of his artwork.

“What are you asking me to do, Declan?” I dip my thumbs into my pockets, watching him. “I already submitted to this. I gave you every part of me.”

“Physically,” he says.

“Yes, physically. Which if you’ve listened to my sessions, you know that’s a lot for me.”

He reaches for my hand. “I do know. And I gave myself to you.”

“That was about exclusivity. Or possession. Or control. But what you’re asking for is…”

“Everything.”

I swallow hard, looking up at him. “Yeah, everything. I don’t know how to trust you with that. I don’t know how to make this real.”

He tips his head back, closing his eyes. And when he looks back at me, all the tension rolls off his shoulders.

“You do know, Teal. But people have brainwashed you to always second-guess yourself. You want this as much as I do, and that’s proven with every bit of your resistance. You’re scared, and I get it. I’m an asshole, and that won’t change. But you can trust me when it comes to you. I’ll protect you from your father. I promise.” Declan steps toward me. “I need to make this right. Trust me to do that.”

I don’t know whether he’s talking about making us right or fixing my issues with my dad. Or maybe he’s referring to something going on with his.

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