Page 67 of When You Saved Me

She blinked, then looked around her body for a few seconds, moving her arms and legs a little. “Just some soreness in my lower back, but nothing sharp.”

My lips tightened. “Charlie, I am so sorry.” My voice cracked on the last word. I cleared my throat, trying to ward off the thick emotions clogging it.

Her grip on my forearms tightened when she looked up at me. “Deacon, this wasn’t your fault.”

I looked off to the side because the angry red mark on her cheek was wrecking me. I knew it would bruise. That tomorrow morning, she’d wake up with a reminder of my stupidity and carelessness.

One day, she’d realize that I was no good. That the only thing she would get with me was a life filled with pain and regret. Then she’d leave. And I’d be left in the darkness once again.

So.

Many.

Thoughts.

Ran through my mind.

All of them dark. All of themwithouther.

“Deacon.” She pressed her palm to the side of my face, forcing me to look at her. “I promise you, I’m fine. It was just a freak accident.”

“ThatIcaused.” I pounded a fist on my chest and hurt flashed across her face.

“Don’t do this to us.” Her words were barely a whisper. “Please don’t.”

“You need to stay away from me, Charlie. You’ll only get hurt.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and I hated myself for causing them, but I knew it was true. She had to stay away from me.What just happened was a sign. A reminder–the people I cared about always suffered. They always got hurt. It was better if I was alone.

So, I did the only thing I could think of to make sure she stayed safe.

I walked away from her.

Chapter 23

Charlie

I’m losing him.

The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning as I sat across from him at the dining table. A deep frown was etched into his face—a constant reminder of what happened yesterday.

When I woke up this morning, blue and black splotches had appeared on my right cheek where my face met the compacted snow as I took the hit to my back and fell. Dazed from the impact, I admitted, it had been unnerving when I woke up in Deacon’s arms having to remember that seconds ago, I was buried under feet of snow.

He’d told me I’d probably lost consciousness for a few seconds, but that was almost all he’d said to me for the rest of the night. Aside from checking on my face and making sure I stayed awake for a long time in case I presented with any other symptoms of a concussion.

Deacon had changed in an instant. The light in his eyesfrom when we were having the snowball fight had snuffed out completely. He looked even worse than the first day I arrived, surprising him on his front porch. At least back then, he was angry.

Now, all I got was heavy silence and solemn looks. His silence was heartbreaking.

I can fix this; I’d told myself this morning when I woke up in the bed we’d shared for two weeks now to find it empty for the first time. There was no good night kiss last night and he had stayed on his side of the bed, leaving me alone in the darkness.

When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I told him I wanted to work on the puzzle hoping it would break the icy barrier between us and he’d finally talk to me.

It worked…sort of. He’d sat down across from me and stared at the scattered pieces. But at least he was here and not brooding in some other part of the house.

Acting as normal as possible, I slipped one of the pieces into place. “Boom,” I attempted in an excited voice only for it to come out in a flat whisper.

Peering at him through my eyelashes, I caught him looking at me, but he immediately averted my gaze. I dipped my head lower, trying to get him to look at me.

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