Page 36 of Chasing Me

I moaned softly, because I had, for a brief time.“Yes.But it wasn’t possible.I could never love anyone the way I do you.”

My admission should have made things better, but it didn’t.The lies and subtle non-truths between us shimmered like an unscalable wall.

The fight died in me, and all that was left was ashes.The ashes of us.

“We can work this out,” he said.He took a few steps toward me, but I couldn’t bear to get close, not like this.Not when we were so broken.“We love each other.I’ll quit the Brush Institute.Find another way.Hell, I’ll go to administration in the morning and tell them everything.Pull out of the expo.Work harder on myself.We can do this.”

I didn’t say anything.My head hurt and my heart ached, and I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep so I didn’t have to think anymore.

“I need time,” I whispered.“I can’t do this now.”

“Okay.”He swiped at his eyes, which looked damp, and nodded.“I understand.I just need you to believe me.”

I kept my silence.

“I love you, Quinn.”

He turned and left me alone.

Chapter Seventeen

JAMES

TWO DAYS.

She’d left me alone for two days, refusing to answer my texts or calls.I knew Quinn would come back to me when she was ready, but the sick pit in my stomach burned acid up my throat and didn’t allow me to do anything but stay at my place.Brooding.Drinking.

Waiting.

I went over the scene a thousand times in my head, cursing myself for not shoving Ava away the moment she came near me, instead of just standing there like an asshole.Quinn was right.I’d had my chance, and blew it because all my doubts made me wonder briefly if I should just fuck Ava and free Quinn for good.The knowledge kept me up all night, filled with guilt and a dark fear she’d end up leaving me for good.

But that wouldn’t happen.Quinn and I loved each other too much to let go without a fight.

As the thought tumbled through my head, a knock sounded at the door.

I lurched over and flung it open.She stood before me, dressed in jeans, a purple sweater, and boots.Her dark, silky hair spilled over her shoulders in pin-straight strands I adored running my fingers through.Her dark eyes stared back at me, wide and serious, with something gleaming in the depths I didn’t want to face.I knew I’d do anything to keep her.

Anything.

She didn’t speak, just walked in and shut the door behind her.I knew I looked like a wreck in sweats, an old T-shirt, and bare feet.Thank God I’d brushed my teeth.

“I missed you,” I finally said.

She blinked, her voice soft.“I missed you, too.”

“I’ve thought about what happened between us, Quinn.Over and over.I know I fucked up in a lot of ways, but I think we’ll be stronger moving forward now.”

She swallowed, her gaze dropping a few inches.My heart beat so loud I couldn’t seem to hear anything else.“I don’t know if I can forgive you.”

I jerked back.Pain slammed through me like I’d just gone a few rounds in the ring.No.No, no, no...“You need more time,” I forced out.“You need to realize I didn’t know what I was doing.I’m pulling out of the expo, Quinn.I’m done.I’m withdrawing from the school, and I’ll move forward and do this on my own.”

“I don’t want you to,” she said.“I think you need to deal with Ava on your own and make some decisions, but you should not pull out of the show.You worked too hard, you’re too talented, and you deserve it.Don’t let her take that from you, James!”

“I don’t want anything if I don’t have you.”

She choked through her next words.“I’m going to Key West.Alone.I want to be with my friends and have some time to myself.I don’t know if I can be with you anymore.”

I knew I should have been patient and understanding.I should have been the grown-up man I always craved to be, but that dark, raw hunger and need for her rose up from my gut and took over.I grasped her shoulders and pulled her close, my hands tangling in her hair, forcing her head to tilt back.Immediately, I watched her pupils dilate; her lips parted, and I knew she wanted me even then, even when she was disgusted and angry and full of pain.We had a connection that ran deeper than we ever understood, and I shook with the need to show her how good we were together.