Page 177 of Dare To Live

“Because …”

Because?” Miles repeats. “That’s not a reason.”

“Because it never feels like the right time.”

“But you are going to tell him?”

I wince. “Maybe.”

“At the prom. It would be a perfect time.”

“He’s upset at me right now. I’m giving him some space.”

The angry look on Eli’s face from earlier haunts my mind.

I can’t bury someone else, Ari.

My chest tightens with regret and pain. I hadn’t meant to scare him.

“It’s obvious he loves you.” Ivan’s voice is soft. “He wouldn’t have gotten so angry with you if he didn’t care.”

Then why hasn’t he told me?

The thought of him rejecting my love is holding me back. I’m scared of getting hurt. Even after everything he’s said and done this week, I’m wary of opening myself up again.

“Maybe. I don’t know. With everything that’s been happening, all the memories this place rakes up, I haven’t been able to think clearly since I got here.”

“I get that.” Miles sighs. “I keep remembering stuff that happened. Sometimes I swear I turn a corner and hear Kellan laughing.”

“We don’t have long left.” Ivan slips his hand free from his lover’s grip. “All you need to do is survive another evening and Prom tomorrow night.”

Chapter 100

Eli

I return to the room I’m sharing with Arabella with just enough time to shower and change before we have to leave. She’s already dressed and ready to go when I walk in.

“I didn’t think you were coming.” There’s a hesitancy to her voice, and I know it’s because of how I’d acted earlier.

Crossing the room, I pull her to her feet. “I’m sorry. I just had to work through a few things.” I kiss the tip of her nose, not wanting to ruin her makeup. “Give me ten minutes to shower and change, and we’ll get going.”

I strip out of my clothes as I walk toward the bathroom, take a quick shower, and am back out, wrapped in a towel in record time.

She doesn’t speak while I dry and dress, but I can feel her eyes on me. When I turn to face her, buttoning up my shirt, she comes toward me and smooths her hand over my chest. “Apart from the worry over everything with Evan, I’ve enjoyed this week.”

I cover her hand with mine. “Me too.”

I want to say more. That I still love her. That I don’t want things to end along with the week at Churchill Bradley, but I stay silent. I’m not sure it’s what she wants to hear.

“Ready to go?” I turn and grab my jacket, pick up my car keys and open the door.

Linda is standing in the hallway just outside.

“Oh!” She takes a step back. “I was about to knock.”

“Is there something I can help you with?”

She shakes her head. “I wanted to talk to Arabella, actually. I wondered if she’d like to catch up more with me and Tina. I thought it’d be nice to finally clear the air. We’re not children anymore, we shouldn’t be behaving like teenagers.”

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