Page 107 of Undone

Rain started to come down, and I glanced around, searching for an alternative, or even just something to keep me going.

Woodstone was still somewhat foreign to me, and I didn’t know the layout well enough to find help on foot in the dark.

But there was one house I was familiar with close by—Dorian’s. The thought of going there sent my heart racing, a chaotic mix of longing and dread intertwining. I hesitated, wrestling with my thoughts as I trudged through the downpour.

Dorian was scared, and I’d seen that fear in his eyes before I ran out. He wanted to protect me, to shield me from the darkness he believed would follow if he let himself get closer.

That fear struck a chord. It reminded me of the warnings I’d heard my whole life—my parents always telling me I was too trusting, too caring, too much. And with John, those warnings became reality. He’d drawn me in with his charm, his smile hiding the monster beneath. The betrayal shattered something in me, cutting deeper than losing him ever could.

Rain fell on my cheeks as those memories surfaced again. I didn’t want to let myself get close to Dorian. I convinced myself it was something fun and lighthearted, something I needed after everything with John.

As I approached his house, my steps slowed, doubt creeping in as I hovered just outside.

Should I really be here? What if he told me to leave? What if he didn’t want to see me? What if he closed the door and turned away?

But the weight of my fear felt less important in that moment.

I needed to feel safe.

And he always made me feel safe.

We’d had a knack for sidestepping the hard conversations, finding solace in simply being there for each other when it mattered most. I would set everything else aside if I had to, just for tonight, and call a truce if it meant getting one more night.

With a shaky hand, I knocked on the door. I stood there, the chill of the rain seeping through my dress as my heart pounded in my ears.

When the door swung open, revealing Dorian, his expression shifted from surprise to concern, and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. They spilled over, mingling with the raindrops, as I found myself searching his eyes for the reassurance I craved.

THIRTY-NINE

Dorian - October

I FOUND - AMBER RUN

I pacedthe small living room. The conversation with Noah kept replaying in my mind, each word she said ricocheting off the walls of my mind, refusing to let me forget.

I can’t do this right now.

Her voice still echoed, laced with that quiet panic, her vulnerability on display in the tremble of her words. I could see it in her eyes—the worry, the careful way she’d tried to distance herself, pulling away before I had the chance to push her away first.

She put everything out there, faced the truth head-on, and I stepped back. I couldn’t handle it. Instead, I fumbled.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to push the knots of frustration and fear from my mind.

I thought about how I’d failed to protect the people I loved. My mom, Hallie, Dotty, and all the promises I made to Gracie. I swore to keep her safe and from experiencing any more pain. And now… now I was facing the real possibility of losing someone else.

I needed to protect Noah. I needed to keep her safe from the danger surrounding her.

But was keeping her at arm's length the best way to do that? Was it enough to just keep her out of my heart, out of the danger I feared?

That pull.

It was like an invisible thread, winding its way around my chest, tightening with every glance, every laugh she shared. Every time her eyes met mine, it was as if the world shifted. There was an undeniable force drawing me to her, something I couldn’t explain, something that felt like it had always been there, waiting for me to notice. And I was so damn tired of pretending I didn’t feel it—tired of holding on to the fear that had kept me from reaching for what I wanted most.

She was right. I didn’t want to be the guy who wasted his life hiding from what mattered, who let the fear of loss keep him from something real.

I couldn’t keep letting fear rule my decisions, either.

I needed to be honest with myself. I needed to admit what I already knew—that I wanted her. Not in some fleeting, casual way, but fully. All in.

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