Page 116 of Electric Touch

“I know this,” she snaps. “It is about you being a dick. Before you get all up on your high donkey, Tia tells me nothing. I ask and ask but she says no. Says you need to decide. So, what is the decision?”

“Alessa, this really doesn’t involve you.”

“He thinks she only got with him because she wanted a one-night stand with a rockstar.”

“Thank you. Very fucking helpful,” I snarl at Dylan. He smiles back.

“Bullshit,” Alessa tsks.

“She’s right bro, that’s a hell of a long one-night stand,” Jordan adds.

I shake my head. They’re all fucking having a pop at me now. “This is between me and Adrestia.”

“Yet you no talk to her. How this help?” she raises her arms and slaps them back down, looking at me like I’m a child who disappointed her. “She say she hurt you, and when you are ready to hear, she will tell you everything.”

She did? That surprises me. Alessa was probably hounding her to find out what happened, but Adrestia hasn’t told. This is between the two of us. Alessa is like a dog with a bone.

“She does not need man. Just like I do not.”

“Hey,” Jordan squints at her.

“Not now,” she says without looking at him. “Women sometimes do stupid things like fall for idiot men who do not listen. Open ears, Nash. Open head,” she flicks my forehead. “Go talk and fix,” she goes off on another Ukrainian tirade.

Adam comes over and grabs his beer, looking around at everyone. For a moment, no one moves or speaks. Then I grab my coat and get up. I leave without saying a word to anyone. They’re entitled to their opinion. I’ve heard enough over the last few days from Dylan. He’s more on the other side of this. He thinks I’ve moved too fast, and it’s a good thing we take a break.

I’m being a stubborn bastard and I know it. I’ve thought all the things Alessa alluded to, and Dylan did the day I told him what was going on. Adrestia isn’t like that. Everyone who has met her would know that.

We’re leaving for the west coast in a few days. Am I going to just walk away for seven weeks without hearing her out? Or seeing her beautiful face?

Alessa is right.

Fuck.

Chapter Thirty

I should be ecstatic, I should be part of the ongoing celebrations. Somehow, I can’t. Of course I’m happy, thrilled even. Everything I’ve worked for over the last few months has come to fruition. My research, all the meetings with people who will need to be involved and pulling everything together. All the countless hours writing the paper and application. And finally, attending the panel two days ago to present it all. I deserve this.

They have awarded us the grant to begin our high school outreach program. Hunter is behind it. The Dean congratulated me on a well written and presented proposal. And an honour for Hunter University to be a part of.

We celebrated as a department when we found out we had won. I even went out for drinks with Apollo and Sasha, but they saw right through my fake smiles. They saw there was one person I wanted to tell that we’d got the grant, but I couldn’t.

A week has passed and no word. I’ve tried to accept he will not hear me out and he’s chosen to walk away. Do I like it? No. Should I fight for it? I’d love to. But I also have to honour his wishes. It would be selfish of me to contact him. I can’t force him to listen. He has to choose to listen and if he doesn’t, I have to respect that.

Sasha was adamant I should have told Nash I love him before I told him the truth. That did not sit right with me. Unfortunately, I’d only been able to give him half of my truth before he walked away. If he could walk away without hearing the rest, then maybe it is for the best. I know it is.

It was only after Sasha had gone that I realised what she said. I love him. It’s impractical, too fast and impulsive, but it’s true. I love Nash Jameson.

In the past, I’ve never given my heart away this easy. None of it makes sense to me. The truth of it is right in front of my face. I’m hurting because he is gone. I’m also stubborn and a firm believer that no one should be able to sway what you want. So I remain alone, wondering what he is thinking, whether he still feels anything for me? The longer it goes without hearing from him, the more it solidifies in my heart. I’m not enough.

That is nonsense. I’m letting an emotion take over rational thought. I don’t do that.

Urgh, I slap the lid down on my laptop. I can’t concentrate. I need to pull myself together and move on. Nash is leaving for his tour. If he leaves without getting back in touch, that will be the death knell.

Switching off the lights, I lock the door to my office and head out. I wish the security guard a good night as I walk out into the rain. I hadn’t even noticed it was coming down so badly before I stepped out and I’m soaked in seconds. I jump back under the portico of the building, but it’s too late. Great. I juggle my laptop bag and purse and pull out my phone, going to the Uber app.

I tap out my order for a cab when I notice someone stepping up close to where I’m standing. Probably getting out of the rain too. It’s getting dark. I’ve stayed at work longer than I planned to. I glance over when they keep coming towards me, instinct kicking in.

Everything stops when I see who it is. His hair is plastered to his forehead, beneath his jacket I can see the T-shirt clinging to his chest. He has both hands in his jeans pocket as he looks at me. Water runs in rivulets down his face. I’m not quite that bad, though I got deluged the few seconds I was in it. Nash looks like he has been standing in the rain, letting it drown him.

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