Page 71 of Warrior

“You always have a choice.”

There’s the hurt. It shines in her eyes, and the air leaves my lungs in a rush.

I hurt her, and Saint still…

She touches the ball of her shoulder, as if remembering something, and her expression closes. All of it leaves her, until she’s just staring at the rushing water.

“You and him should talk,” I say.

“Talk or argue.”

I nudge her. “You’re a good debater. Surely you’re not afraid of getting into it with Saint?”

“He just makes things bigger than they are. And I’m tired.”

I nod like I understand. I’m not in her shoes, though. I can’t understand shit from over here.

I hold out my hand. “I don’t want to be your enemy, Artemis.”

She glances down at it, then up at my face. “You’re with Gabriel. And he…”

Her eyes fill with tears. They spill over, and I reach for her. Like she reached for me. But she doesn’t swat me away or move back.

She lets me catch her tears with my fingers.

“Don’t cry.”

There’s something in me that demands I protect her in all the ways I couldn’t. Against my better judgment, I pull her into my chest and wrap my arms around her.

It takes a long moment, but she carefully hugs me back.

I breathe in her floral scent. Dip my head to let my nose brush her hair. Inhale.

I don’t want to exhale.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her. “It won’t happen again.”

She sniffs. “I don’t believe you.”

That stings. But I can’t make her trust me… it’s got to be earned.

And I want that.

“I’ll prove it to you.”

She slowly extricates herself.

“Gabriel is the problem.” Her words are more for herself than me. She looks me up and down, seeming to decide something, and slowly nods. “I’ll see you around, Kade.”

“Yes, you will.”

I watch her go.

Then I head to Bobby’s boat, parked back at the marina, because I’m starving. And there’s nothing left to do today except mourn how much I fucked things up.

16SAINT

The moment I find Tem,I settle.

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