Page 97 of Hunting Pretty

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why are you trying to stop me from investigating if you didn’t?”

He clenched his jaw, his expression hardening. “You’re playing with fire, Ava. If you’re too stupid to see that, then someone has to save you from yourself.”

“Stupid?” I spluttered.

“Yeah. Stupid.” His brows pulled together in irritation, lips twisting into a frown. “I’m trying toprotectyou.”

“Fromwho?” I said, my voice rising.

“From whoever took your friend,” he said, his voice growing louder to match mine.

I shot him a dark look, my mouth set in a hard line. “I’m not going to abandon someone I love just because it is a little dangerous.”

His lips parted on a breath. “Let it go, Ava. Please. It’s too late to help her.”

“I can’t.”

God, help me. I tried to let it go. I knew how much danger I was putting myself into but…

“Ineedto know,” I said, willing him to understand. “Ineedto remember.”

He leaned in closer, so our faces were barely an inch apart. “There are things you don’t want to remember.”

I could feel his warm breath against my mouth as we breathed in the same breath.

I licked my lips. “I rememberyou… parts of you. Why don’t I remember any more?”

His voice was hollow when he replied, “Some things are too painful to remember.”

A slow, insidious chill started at the base of my spine and worked its way up, vertebra by vertebra.

My past was a black hole because there was a part of me that didn’t want to remember. This realization was like a whisper of cold air slipping under my skin, threading through my nerves.

I steeled myself and forced myself to ask, “Why, what happened?”

He stared back for the longest moment. I could almost see his mind chewing over how much he would reveal to me.

Finally, he spoke, his words measured. “What do you remember?”

“I remember you protecting me,” I said.

For some reason I started leaning toward him.

He leaned in too, as this connection—that neither of us seemed to be able to fight—drew us closer.

“I remember,” I continued, “you were my best friend.”

He froze.

I brushed my lips against his. “Why won’t you tell me your name?”

I thought he was going to kiss me again.

“Y-you…” he whispered against my mouth, “you don’t know anything.”

He shoved off me so fast I was left reeling.

I barely blinked before he’d disappeared out into the hallway and I heard the front door open, then close again.

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