Page 118 of Stolen Summer

“I don’t want to speak to him. I thought I made that very clear, Cole.” Hurt speared through me. I couldn’t believe Cole had orchestrated this meeting behind my back. I shook my head. “I never should have trusted you.”

As if Cole anticipated I was about to bolt, he latched on to my upper arm and angled our faces side by side so he could murmur in my ear. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you’re not the only one suffering. I’ve never seen Crew like this.”

My palms shot out, landing on his chest, and I shoved him away. “And you’re implying it’s my fault. You did this. The two of you.”

Cole rubbed the spot on his chest, the glint of gold in his eyes sparkling while Crew’s eyes remained so damn grim. “There’s so much you don’t understand. Just give him a chance. He isn’t the monster you think he is.” And with that parting statement, Cole stood and walked out of the library, leaving me alone with his brother.

Damn it.

I didn’t know what to do. Run was an option and high on my list. The smart thing would be to get up and follow Cole out, but I didn’t always make decisions that were good for me. Sometimes I made the wrong ones.

Why weren’t my legs cooperating? Get up. And move, I screamed inside my head. Instead, I sat on the edge of the couch, my eyes captured by Crew’s as my chest rose and fell rapidly.

Crew blocked the doorway. My only way out. To escape, I’d have to go through him, get close to him, touch him, all things I wasn’t prepared to do. But the alternative was to stay trapped in this room with him. The irony. This wasn’t the first time I’d been trapped with Crew.

Finally, with considerable effort, I shoved to my feet, gaining control of my body despite my heart’s protest. “I’m leaving.”

Crew didn’t so much as blink at my declaration but raised a cocky single brow as if to say I’d like to see you try, Killer. I could all but hear the silent challenge in my head.

It stirred my blood. I stared at him, remaining more than an arm’s length away. I wanted to be able to dodge if he tried to reach for me. Those hands wouldn’t touch me. “Get out of my way,” I said, trying again with added firmness.

His gaze drifted over my face. “Not until you hear me out.”

I ground my teeth, grasping the shred of willpower remaining in my bones. “Crew, fucking move.”

“Why is it when you finally say my name after I’ve waited so long to hear it again it’s with disdain?”

My heart lurched in my chest. “Whose fault is that? You shouldn’t have lied to me for weeks.”

The muscle along his neck jumped. “I had my reasons.”

“Right,” I snorted, my hands curling into fists. “You’re an asshole who gets kicks out of playing with people.”

His eyes remained fixed on me. “Is that really what you think I did? That none of it was real?”

My features tightened. I had to stay steadfast and cling to my anger, or I’d fall apart. “You tried to clear your conscious by paying me. It doesn’t fix or erase what you did. Nothing will.”

He flinched, and when he replied, the harshness in his voice faded. “You’re right, Killer. I could apologize a million times, but it wouldn’t change anything. I can’t fix the past.”

A whiff of his sea salt and basil scent hit me, bringing with it a pang of homesickness for the beach. Why was he suddenly so close? Had he moved? Or had I? Regardless, I had to retreat, take a step back, and create space. Enough that I couldn’t smell him. “What is it you want from me?”

“I can’t get you out of my head,” he growled like it had been causing him physical pain each day.

Good. I hoped it had. “That doesn’t sound like my problem.”

I barely had time to blink, to comprehend what happened as I found my back pressed up against the wall. Crew’s body boxed me in, his arms flanking either side of my head as his hands pressed into the drywall. “Tell me you feel nothing for me. Tell me your heart doesn’t race when I walk into a room. Tell me you aren’t thinking about kissing me right now,” he demanded, my eyes moving to his mouth, and I fucking cursed him silently. “Tell me it’s Cole you want, and I’ll leave you alone. You’ll never see me again…if that’s what you truly want. But I need to hear you say it, Killer. I need you to make me believe it.”

I swallowed, caught in the storm circulating in his eyes as he stared down at me. What the fuck was I supposed to say to that? “Cole?” I swallowed, my mind getting tripped up on the thought of me wanting Cole.

His eyes squeezed shut for a moment, but I caught the flash of pain right before he banished it. The stare he gave me now was steeled for rejection. “If it’s my brother, I’ll step aside.”

He actually thought there was something going on between Cole and me. I laughed, a maddening, disbelieving chuckle that quickly died. Cole had tried to kiss me tonight, so perhaps Cole had said something to Crew. Regardless, the last place I wanted to be was wedged between them. Again.

“Asshole,” I hissed through my teeth, bringing my hands up between us. Shoving him away wasn’t the same as pushing Cole. Crew didn’t budge. “You think I jumped ship and am now sleeping with your brother.”

“Are you?” he asked lowly.

My chin jutted up, not the smartest move since it brought our lips nearer. “Fuck you.”

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