Page 43 of Obsessed with the Heartbreaker

Still, I just had to turn and look at him again. “What were we, then?” When Henry didn’t answer, I advanced on him, suddenly angry, suddenlyspiteful, because not only had he stoppedspeaking to me, he was now also trying to ruin every memory I had of him? “What were we if we weren’t friends, Henry? Because you might have chosen to throw everything out the window, but it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t real.”

Henry’s expression tightened, but his eyes were fierce on mine. “We were a glitch in the system, a temporary mistake that was always meant to end up like this.”

“With me being your valet?”

“With you being everything I could never be, and us staying as far away from each other as possible.”

A pang of understanding went through me. The knowledge that Henry had always seen himself as less because he wasn’t what Connell wanted him to be. I was also very aware of the fact that I wasfighting himon something that I regularly told myself.

That we weren’t meant to be. That we didn’t make sense. That this misguided attraction would only ever hurt and never satisfy.

I still felt a little wild. Bold. Reckless.

“Well, that insurmountable distance is apparently just two inches away,” I said, then stepped even closer. One inch away.

Whatever he thought, he wasn’t less than me or anyone else. Hell, in my eyes, he’d always beenmore. More alive, more dazzling, more powerful and perfect than I could ever be.

We were opposites, but I wanted him with everything I had.

His gaze drifted down for a second to where our bodies were almost touching, to where he was against the counter and I was keeping him there with sheer force of will alone.

“I thought you were aware of what metaphors are, Andino. Not to mention this is a temporary detour. It’s not real.”

“I think this is very real. You just don’t want to see it.”

Jaw working, Henry tried another tactic. “If my father knew I was making you act as myvalet, he’d send me to an early grave.”

“You’re not making me do anything and you know it.” My hands were on each side of him on the counter, heart thudding in my chest.

I was done with excuses. I wanted his truth.

“We have adeal.”

“That deal is bullshit and you know it.”

Henry searched my eyes. He looked painfully gorgeous as his hair glinted golden, caught by the sun filtering through the window. “You’d never volunteer to be with me and be my valet.”

“Wouldn’t I?” I let out a humorless chuckle. “I think I already did.”

“Youhateme—”

“Hateis the furthest thing I’ve ever felt for you. I hate smelly socks, drizzling rain, and lukewarm tea. I have an aversion to the mere mention of snakes, and Ihatenot getting my favorite spot in the library. So don’t tell me that I hate you, Henry, because hate has nothing to do with it.”

I was almost panting after my outburst. I was outraged that he would put those feelings on me. I was sick and tired of this enmity.

And I was tired of not having Henry in my life.

Raising a hand, Henry put it around my neck, not squeezing but just so I could feel it. Like he was warning me I was getting too close to a vulnerable spot.

Still, it made my breath catch.

Not with fear but…Longing.

Desire.

“You’re getting very cocky, talking to me this way. Do you know who you’re talking to?” His eyes were sharp, defiant. Threatening.

A deflection tactic.

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