Page 76 of Always Been You

"Yes."

"And running by my house? Were you doing that on purpose to drive me crazy?"

"No."

She crossed her arms again and stared at him. Out of everything she'd just pointed out that was the one that she'd been absolutely sure of.

"Not at first." He sighed. "I started running by there after your surgery. I don't know why just seeing your house made me feel better, but it did. Then it became my routine."

"Your routine?"

"Yes."

"And your 'routine' just happens to coincide with the time I leave for work in the morning? And your ‘routine’ happened to be taking your shirt off right when you passed my house?"

"No, those were intentional."

Vindication infused through her. She knew she'd been right. "To drive me crazy."

"I figured it's only fair since you've driven me crazy for so long I don't even remember what being sane feels like,” he admitted, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Good."

"Good?"

"Yes. We drive each other crazy. That means things won't get boring between us."

"There is no us." His nostrils flared.

It was clear that he was fighting what was between them and she thought she had a pretty good idea why. "Bullshit."

"Jess—”

"I told you, don't Jess me! Why did you tell me about your dad and being found in the alley?"

"What?"

"Why? Why did you tell me that? Was it just so you could sleep with me?"

"No." His anger was palpable from just the mere suggestion.

Her plan was working.

"So, you cared about me then, but after you slept with me you got over it?"

"Fuck no." The intensity that she hadn't seen in his eyes since before the incident was back and Jess mentally patted herself on the back.

"So, then....you never cared about me at all?"

The vein in his neck popped out and his eyes narrowed in awareness. She saw the moment he figured out what she'd been doing, playing him to get him to admit that he cared about her. Since the jig was up, she figured she’d do the admitting for him.

"You love me, Ethan. And I love you. It might’ve taken me a little bit longer to figure that out than you, but at least once I knew it I wasn't too chicken shit to fight for it."

"I don't love you."

"Yes, you do," she stated calmly. "But for some reason you're too scared to admit it. Maybe even to yourself, but I doubt that. So what is it? What are you scared of?"

"I'm not scared, it just wouldn't work."

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