Page 86 of Crave Me

If there was a wall close enough, I’d be taking a swing myself.

“The good faith money they gave us was used months ago,” he reminds me. “We don’t have to return it per the terms of our agreement. But the money we were depending on from this sale is gone.” He sighs. “There’s not enough coming in. Not for everything we need. I’m flying to London next week and connecting personally with the accounts we have pending throughout the U.K. It’s strictly a business trip, and we won’t have much time to ourselves, but I want you with me.”

“All right,” I say. God, he seems so far away even though I’m holding him.

My hands fall away as he turns to face me, it’s only then I realize his knuckles are bleeding. I reach for a few tissues on the table and press them into his hand, almost at the same time I clutch his fist against my chest.

“Don’t,” he says, attempting to pull away. “I’ll ruin your dress.”

“I don’t care about my dress, I care about you,” I whisper. “Evan, we’re in this together. No way am I letting you go.”

The anger and worry deepening the faint lines around his eyes, lessen at my words.

I want to mean what I say. But how can I help him when I can’t even help myself?

---