Page 151 of Dare To Break

Like nothing can hurt me.

I’ve been letting myself get lost in the cracks of my anxiety, and it’s taken a stranger in the dark to make me see that. I like the way I feel about myself when I’m with him. He makes me feel things I’ve never experienced before.

The way he listened to me, really listened, made me feel seen. How he touched me like he didn’t want to stop made me feel wanted.

When we make it to the door, my steps falter, my heart speeds up, and there’s a heavy pressure in my chest.

Where’s the girl who walked to a bench in the middle of the night, took off her clothes, and stood there naked so a man in a mask could look his fill at her?

The low husky words whisper through my memory. He left his mark on my neck. A hickey I had to cover with makeup.

Where’s the girl who rode through five orgasms on a stranger’s tongue, then went home and fucked herself to a sixth?

Lifting my head up high, I let his words empower me.

I’m that girl.

Arabella Gray.

No one knows how many times I’ve sat in my room and cried. How many times I’ve lost hope. How many times I’ve thought I might snap with everything I’m carrying around on the inside.

Instead of giving up, I need to let go.

Miles pulls me to a stop outside the doors. “I’m going to be right by your side. We just stick together. We’re a power couple just like Ant-man and The Wasp.”

His superhero reference makes me smile. “Daredevil and Elektra.”

“Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman.”

“Thanks for having my back,”

Miles returns my smile. “That’s what friends do.”

I didn’t know he covered for me when I skipped dinner until Lacy asked me how my designing was going. She believed his excuse that I was too wrapped up in what I was doing to eat. After food had arrived last night, much to my surprise, I’d automatically texted him to thank him. It had been a shock to discover it wasn’t him.

My dark shadow had come to me in the cemetery. Built me up with his words. Turned me on with his kisses, and then made sure I didn’t go hungry.

I can’t call him that. What is he, Batman? God, I’m such a dork.

A smile lifts my lips at the thought.

Heads turn our way when Miles and I enter the cafeteria, whispers rippling around us. Tightening his grip on my hand, he squeezes my fingers. His touch feels solid and safe, grounding me that little bit more.

Why do you care what anyone else thinks?

The words keep me walking.

I keep my eyes forward and pretend that Eli Travers does not exist in my world. He’s nothing to me. Just another toxic influence I don’t need in my life. Trauma I don’t need to add to all the others that have shaped me in the last eighteen years.

I step toward an empty table, but Miles tugs me toward the others. When we reach them, they all stop talking.

Evan speaks first. “Your tits look good in that top.”

I lift a careless shoulder. “I decided to try something new.”

But Evan’s attention has moved away from me and he’s looking at Miles like he’s crazy. “Dude, your girlfriend has kissed two other guys, and you’re cool with that?”

“Yeah, how’s Eli?” Bret smirks at me. “Locked lips with him recently?”

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