Page 99 of Hidden Ascent

“It’s not about that.”

“Then what is it about? You’re not being honest with me. I can’t believe you really think I’m so incapable. Is this because the Hulk almost killed me? Because my plan was working. I had a hiccup. Those things happen. Your plan was risky too.”

Jay sighed up at the ceiling. “It has nothing to do with how capable you are. But I can’t—I can’t work while you’re in danger.”

“Why not? What’s changed?”

“You. Or me. I don’t know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You matter more to me than I expected, and I don’t know what to do with that. But I can’t focus if I think you could get hurt.”

“Oh.” Isla looked at the fingernail she’d started picking. “Yeah…well…you get to know people when you work with them. That’s normal. It’s why it hurt so much when my team was killed. That doesn’t mean I’d sideline them for what might happen.”

He put a hand on her arm and slid it down to her hand. “That’s not what I meant.”

She looked up at him and held her breath, then pulled her hand away. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but she couldn’t handle the fire that ignited when he looked at her that way.

“You can’t,” she said.

“Can’t what?”

“Have feelings for me. You can’t.”

He nodded. “I realize this makes you uncomfortable, and I’m sorry for that. I know you don’t like me very much. I know I’m just a criminal to you. That was why I asked Peter to bring in the others. You may not trust me, but you can trust them. They’re on the right side of the law.”

“Jay, that’s not—”

“I swear to you that all I want to do is help you get through this. Then I’ll leave you alone. But let us do this. Letmedo this for you.”

She walked to the window to escape from the moment and from the emotions that scrambled her mind. But there was no escape.

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“For what? Not being able to reciprocate my feelings? Don’t worry about it. I already know. You feel how you feel.”

She turned. “No.” Every other word she tried to say next was terrifying. If she told Jay the truth, she could never take it back. She had never been so confused about a person before in her life, so she stepped around it instead. “This is my battle. I can’t stay out of it. Just because you—I won’t let you sideline me in my own fight.”

Jay sighed. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right. You invited me to help you, and I’ve taken charge of the whole thing.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“This would probably be a good time to bow out.”

“What? No. That’s not what I meant.”

“You’ve got help now. I’ll tell you my plan, and you guys can carry it out without me. Or change it. It doesn’t matter. But you won’t have to see me again.”

“That’s not what I want either.”

“It will be easier for you.”

“How?”

“Because you don’t trust me, and I’ve bared my heart to you and made everything awkward.”

She had been afraid to tell him how she felt, but she didn’t think it would mean she’d lose him. “You can’t go.”

---