Page 107 of Love to Hate You

“I never wanted you to find out about this,” he admits.

“Why? Do you think I would have judged you for it?” I hate the idea of him going through this alone.

His hand tightens around the wheel. “I was ashamed.”

“Carter…” I fight back the tears that rush to my eyes.

He glances in the rearview mirror and slows the car, pulling over to the side of the road. The wheels spit gravel as he cuts the engine. He unsnaps his seatbelt and angles his body toward mine, sliding one hand into my hair.

“I spent all this time pushing you away because I never wanted that kind of ugliness to touch you. All I’ve ever wanted is to protect you, Daisy.” He pauses for a beat. “Even from myself.”

“Don’t say that.” My heart shatters into a million jagged pieces.

“You deserve better than me.” His other hand rises to cradle my cheek and a fierce solemnness flares to life in his eyes. “You have to know that everything I’ve ever said or done was never meant to hurt you. I needed to keep you at a distance and that was the only way to do it.” He shakes his head as his lips twist. “But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stay away from you. I ached to be around you.”

“The only thing I need protecting from,” I admit, “is my own stupidity. I should have seen what was right in front of me the entire time. I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you.” I swallow down the emotion that threatens to break loose. “Not the other way around.”

“You’re wrong about that, but I’m not going to argue with you.” His lips lift as he strokes the side of my face. “None of it matters anymore.”

My heart clenches as fear slides through me. I don’t want him to push me away again. I don’t think I could stand it knowing everything I do.

Instead, he says, “Because you’re mine now.”

When his lips feather over mine, I open, needing the contact. Needing to reaffirm that this really is happening.

That he’s mine and I’m his.

When he pulls away, determination fills his eyes. “Let’s get out of here. We’ve got one more thing to take care of.

I expel a breath and pray our conversation with Noah goes better than I anticipate because he’s the only obstacle standing between Carter and me being together.

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