Page 109 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

Irritation flashes in his gaze. “What?”

Every atom in my body is telling me to look away, but my pride forbids me from breaking the eye contact. “I was just thinking maybe I haven’t given him a fair shot.”

He shakes his head as though this isn’t making any sense. “Okay, what the fuck is going on here? Are you mad at me or something?”

Yes.

I’m mad because you were right. I did catch feelings. Here I go again, falling for the guy who doesn’t want me back. That’s practically my MO.

“Funny, I thought you might be mad atme. You know, since you didn’t say a word to me last night.”

His face falls.

“Look…” He steps closer, rubbing the back of his neck as he avoids my gaze. “It wasn’t you. It’s just… I have a lot on my mind these days.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”

It’s as though an invisible wall just emerged between us. His shields are up. They always are whenever I ask him a personal question, and I know he’s going to deflect before he even opens his mouth.

“It’s… complicated.”

Of course it is.

That’s what seals the deal.

“I don’t think I can tutor you anymore.”

His mouth drops open, and he stumbles back a step. “Wait, what?”

“This arrangement of ours… it was fun and all, but I think it’s run its course. We should probably keep our distance from now on.”

My comment stuns him silent.

I don’t give him a chance to gather himself, immediately heading for the door. “Great. Glad we agree.”

I only manage to take a step before his hand latches onto my wrist and pulls me back. My forearm hits his chest with a thud, the near proximity between us messing with my emotions. I don’t have it in me to look up and stare into those mesmerizing brown eyes, knowing they’ll never see me as more than a friend.

“No” is all he says.

God, I need a tutor to show me how tobreatheat this point.

“No what?” I play dumb.

“No, I’m not keeping my fucking distance. Sorry.”

It feels like my heart is trying to carve its way out of my rib cage with a butcher knife.

Only then do I muster the bravery to look him in the eye and say, “Why not? I thought you didn’t like me like that.”

It’s as though every trace of oxygen has been sucked out of the room. TJ’s features twist with shock as realization crashes into him like a tidal wave.

With that said, I free my wrist from his grasp, spin on my axis, and walk away.

TJ

Moron.Idiot. Liar.

Just a few of the adjectives that have been running through my mind since she left my ass stranded in her bedroom a half hour ago.

---