Page 44 of The Chance

“Yeah,” I lie and my voice cracks.

My eyes start to sting, and my tongue burns with a big, fat,why.

Why can’t you love me back?

Jordan’s sigh is audible. “Mac—”

“I have to go,” I rush out.

“Wait.” I pause, my composure hanging by the thinnest thread. “Drink some tea. It’ll help.”

I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Right.”

It won’t help this.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jordan

For days, I’ve riddenon a high that I can’t explain.

Even through the boredom of babysitting Aria’s shop and working through Mac’s surprise with enough blood and sweat to keep it all together, I’ve managed to hang onto it.

It started when he finally answered one of my calls.

And even though he abused his voice as much as he did his drums that night, I can’t stop thinking about it.

You should have been there.

But he didn’t need me there.

He handled shit.

I knew he could. Knew he would.

There’s just something about the way he did that’s got me smiling.

I didn’t break him.

There’s a pang of something that knocks at my chest and threatens the feeling I’ve clung to, but I won’t let it.

Mac’s shining brighter. Just like I hoped.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Mac

Cold.

Everything is cold. Hollow.

Damp.

I jolt, limbs jerking.

The clock says only three minutes have passed since I last looked at it.

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