Page 29 of Dare To Live

“The last time I was at the house was your dad’s funeral.” I look away from him. “I thought you lived there.”

“Elena never told you I moved?”

“She mentions you from time to time, but she doesn’t go into detail.”

“But the first mention of me being sick, and you leap to come out here?” There’s a hint of bitterness in his tone. “What was that about? Hoping I’ve left you something in my will?”

I drop back onto the mattress with a groan, and stare at the ceiling. “Oh my god, what is wrong with you?” I suck in an irritated breath. “What do you want from me, Eli?”

“The truth.”

“I was worried about you.”

His eyebrow hikes.

“Okay, yes. Fine! I was also curious.”

Eli grunts. “You wanted to see how I was living? Compare it to your own perfect life?”

“I wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Why?”

“I feel like we’re stuck on repeat.” Grabbing a pillow, I drag it over my head in frustration.

“Princess—”

That word sends me upright. I throw the pillow at his head. He catches it easily. “Don’t Princess me. You said you wanted space. And yet here you are … invading mine.”

“Don’t avoid the question.”

“Why?” I snap, the anger inside me is hotter than lava. “I’m surprised you don’t have someone spying on me. Then you would have known I was coming.”

His lips curl into a cruel smile, his eyes as cold as the snow falling beyond the window. “You’re not that special, Princess. You wanted space, and I gave it to you in spades.”

“Yet we were practically joined at the hip when we were dating. You wanted to know who I was texting. Who I was talking to. Where I was going. You insisted on driving me everywhere. We were together twenty-four-seven all the damn time—”

“I was protecting you.”

“It wasn’t healthy, Eli.” I swing my legs off the mattress, and round the bed. “Evan went to prison. They locked him away. What were you protecting me from?”

I stop in front of him.

“What was I protecting you from? You even have to ask? Every other sick bastard out in the world.”

“You couldn’t protect me from the whole world.” I shake my head. “When I tried to reach out to you, you’re the one who told me to fuck off. Why are you in my room?”

He scowls. “I’m the one asking the questions.”

“You want a rundown of my life? Fine. I work in a fashion house in L.A. I have a comfortable apartment. My life is filled with workout classes, my art, and spending time with Miles when he’s not with his fiancé, Ivan.” I slap my hand against his chest and shove him back, but he doesn’t budge. “Is that what you wanted to know?”

“Not much time for your boyfriend.”

“Oh, so now we get to the bottom of what you really want to know.”

Eli laughs, the sound brittle. “I don’t fucking care.”

“No, Eli. I don’t have a boyfriend.”

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