Page 105 of Take Hold of Me

He crosses his arms across his chest. “Drama follows you in your world. And you thrive on it.”

I wrap a bulletproof vest around my heart, shielding it from the hurtful things he is spewing in my direction. “No, I do not. Wills, what is this about?”

He chuckles, a hollow, mirthless sound. “Listen, this was fun while it lasted. We both got to live in a fantasy for a little while. But you know as well as I do that fantasies don’t last. Or maybe you don’t. Maybe you want to go on pretending that we never have to face reality. I can’t live a lie, though. It’s time to move on.” He points his head toward the door.

My breath stutters. “What?”

“You’re beautiful to look at, I’ll give you that much. But I need someone with a little more, you know, depth. Who looks beyond what a person is wearing.” His cheek jumps.

His words cut straight through me. Anger replaces confusion. My voice raises. “Oh really? Well, maybe I should be with someone who can sleep the whole night through and is man enough to seek professional help—because you need it.” I clamp my hand over my mouth.

“It’s good to know how you really feel. Now it’s time for you to leave.” Wills approaches me, wraps his fingers around my upper arm and marches me toward the front door.

Throwing my head in the air, I exit without looking back at the man who pulverized my heart.

I can never look back.

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