Page 124 of See Me

It’s a lesson I learned long ago and I should’ve known better. Every time I try to be someone I’m not, it blows up in my face. With my parents, my school friends, Cassie and Jess. It backfires every time.

I should've seen this coming a mile away, and maybe I did. But the way he made me feel had me willing to ignore every blaring neon sign pointing todisaster ahead. I blink away the tears anddammit it all to hell, a few escape.

I sniffle and wipe my face. I walk down the hall and freeze when I see him standing next to Enzo. My chest aches and my stomach fills with lead.

Enzo walks toward me, hands up in mock surrender. “Blaze, listen. Just hear him out and then I’ll take you home.”

My heart thunders in my chest. “You planned this?” I muster every bit of rage and direct it at Enzo, not giving Luca even an ounce of my emotions.

He grabs my shoulders. “Do you trust me?”

“I did until about thirty seconds ago.” Not only did he betray my trust but now he wants to leave me alone to have a conversation with a convicted murderer? Actually, I don’t know if he was convicted, the fact that he’s standing in front me has me leaning toward not, but I never read the article.

“I’m just going to walk next door. Call me if you need me and I’ll be here in two seconds.” He leans down to whisper in my ear. “I’m totally stealing from him. Want anything?”

I push him away from me and drop the duffel bag to cross my arms over my chest.

Enzo mimes theI’m watching youto Luca and he rolls his eyes. His gaze follows Enzo to the door and he turns to me once he’s gone.

He pulls his hat off and runs his hand through his hair. His hands are bandaged and stiff but he doesn’t show signs of feeling any pain. He puts the hat back on and paces the floor in front of the coffee table. His eyes flick to me every other second or so as he continues pacing.

“I had a whole speech prepared.” He laughs. “I mean, it’s been almost a month. I’ve had a lot of time to think. But all I can think to say is I can’t stop thinking about you and it’s pissing me off.”

I bend over to pick up the bag. “Well, thanks for stoppingby to deliver your sentiments personally. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.” I roll my eyes and head for the door.

He jumps to block my path and I flinch back. He holds up his battered hands and takes a step toward me. I take two steps back, my eyes darting to the door, gauging how quick I would have to be to get past him.

I was never afraid of him, no matter how rough he got. I never feared he would hurt me. But it’s safe to assume he was playing a part just like I was. The wild look in his eyes now isn’t something I remember seeing before and it would be stupid of me to ignore it. I take a few more steps back and put the couch between us.

He rubs his chin and nods. “You looked me up.” It was a statement, not a question.

I drop my eyes, suddenly ashamed of my reaction. I don’t have the deep gut feeling telling me to be afraid of him. I take that back. I’m not afraid he’ll physically hurt me. He has the potential to rip me to shreds, though. He’s proven that already. I can’t even blame him. I set myself up to fall hard.

He retreats to the other side of the room, reading my reaction. “I would never hurt you, Princess.”

I grit my teeth. “Stop calling me that. After all you insinuated, it’s a slap in the face.”

He tips his head up to the ceiling and clenches his jaw. “I didn’t mean a word of it.”

“I think what you mean to say is, since I didn’t get pregnant on purpose to trap you, you take it back. Right?”

He rubs his teeth over his lip and casts his eyes on the floor.

“But what if itwaspositive, Luca? What if Iwaspregnant? Your opinion of me would be the same as it was a month ago. I did it so you’d support me? There’s no way I would ever change that thought in the back of your head.”

“That’s not true. I barely believed it then. I panicked.”

“Oh, youbarelybelieved it. Well, that changes everything.” I laugh. “It was the first thing out of your mouth. It wasn’t much of a stretch, apparently.”

“I know it sounds bad, but if I’d have known…”

“Known what? That I loved you?” His eyes close when the words leave my mouth. “That would’ve changed everything? Bullshit.”

“It would’ve made a difference.”

“Would it? Or would it send you running? Because you made it crystal clear what this was.” I gesture to the apartment. “We were playing house. A game. You just played it better than me. You won and you stomped all over me during your victory lap.

He comes around the coffee table and I hold my ground. “That’s not true.”

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