Page 173 of Splintered Hearts

Getting up, I walk slowly down the hall, still not hearing any noise. My heart thumps loudly with each step closer to his door. Opening it, I brace myself.

What?

The room is nearly empty, except for his bed and dresser. Where did his desk and shelf go? Walking inside, I see the stuffed fox in the middle of the bed, and turning from the room my eyes catch on the massive mural on the wall. Toward the end of my staying here Jamie wouldn’t let me in his room. It wasn’t hard, seeing as we slept together in my bed most nights.

“Holy shit.” My fingers reach out before I pull them back, not sure if it’s wet.

Hunter. Luci. Xavier. Lia. Bri. “Mark?”

“That one took some real talent.” I nearly scream, punching the air as Jamie smiles. “I had to dig deep for that one.”

“It’s amazing.” My eyes catch on the corner. Next to Mark. Me. Jamie painted me. “How much pain were you in when you finished?”

Jamie rubs the back of his head sheepishly. “Yes.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. This man will never learn. “It’s absolutely stunning.”

“Did you finish the letters?”

I frown. I mean... I have to. “Letters?”

“The . . . letters.”

“I’m looking for my charger. Did I leave my charger here? I must have left it. I can’t find it packed in my stuff.” Looking around the room, I shake my head. “Have you seen it? It wasn’t in my old room.”

“You . . . came to get your charger?”

“Yeah. Sorry. I should have called. I was on my way home from work.” I blink at him and Jamie’s eyes narrow on me as he shakes his head.

“You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?”

“You make it so easy.”

Jamie looks like he’s going to laugh, or cry, I’m not sure. Covering his face with his hands, he shakes his head. “You’re so mean to me,” he says, muffled behind his hands, and I can’t help a tiny smile. Peeling his hands from his face he shakes his head before eying my shirt. “I can’t with you.”

Looking down at myMayor of Pound Townshirt, I shrug. “I wanted to dress up nice for you.” And I may have spilled some sauce on my work shirt and had this in the back seat of my car.

“I love you so fucking much.” Jamie goes to engulf me in a hug, and as much as I want to drown inside his arms, I step back, holding my hand out. Confusion flashes on Jamie’s face and although I want this to be done, I just can’t. “What?”

“I want this, so much you have no idea, but how am I just supposed to trust you? After all of this. After what you said to me.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“I know you said that, but you’ve said things before, and youractions contradicted those things. How am I supposed to just believe that you didn’t mean what you said when we got back? Maybe you’re just lonely now, and once you get tired again, you’ll want to leave me.”

“Noah—”

“Because that hurt, Jamie. So fucking much. I’m sorry for hurting you after the first time we had sex, but to throw it in my face... That was mean. How am I just supposed to believe that you’re in this.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t ask me that.” Jamie closes his eyes, seemingly counting to ten. “Here.” Reaching into his pocket he hands me a slip of paper.

Reading it, I’m confused. It’s a receipt. “Madd Ink?”

“That tattoo shop belonged to my best friend. The one who died in the car accident.”

“Oh.”

“His boyfriend still owns it.”

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