Page 61 of Haunted

“What in the hell do you mean, you can’t? Are you okay?”

It takes her moment to answer, and when she does, I hear the quiver in her voice. “Because I don’t want to.”

I take a step back and glare at the door, not understanding what she means. Why in the fuck wouldn’t she want to answer the door? It’s clear it’s me she doesn’t want to face.

Understanding dawns, and my stomach clenches.

“You remember,” I state hoarsely.

“No.” Her tone isn’t much stronger than mine. The answercomes out pained, which sends a sharp stab to my chest. “Theo told me.”

I stuff my hands inside my pockets to keep from punching the brick beside the door. I don’t know what pisses me off more; Theo telling Jules what I did or medoingwhat I did. I should have known Theo would tell her eventually if she didn’t remember on her own. I’m actually surprised he hadn’t done it earlier. Jules has a right to know, and Theo had the right to tell her, but damn if it doesn’t hurt. I don’t want her to think of me with fear or disgust.

Taking my hands out of my pockets, I put them on the door and hang my head in shame. “I’m sorry,” I mutter, but I know she hears me. The door is shit and thin.

I don’t expect an answer from her, but it still guts me when she stays silent.

“I don’t know what to say, Jules. All I know is I never meant to hurt you.”

Hearing her sniffle on the other side of the door plummets my heart into my stomach.

“Do you really not remember?”

“No.” I let out a harsh laugh. “I guess we both have problems remembering the darkest parts of our lives. I don’t know if that’s a blessing or curse.”

I lay my forehead against the door, and I swear I feel the warmth of her doing the same.

“I don’t want to remember,” she says softly. “I don’t want to imagine you hurting me.”

“Jules….” I stop, unable to form the words I want to. How do you apologize for something you don’t remember doing? I am remorseful, but the apology seems dishonest because I don’t know what I’m apologizing for.

Instead I think about the reason I’m here in the first place, or the excuse I gave myselfto see her again.

I clear my throat and ask, “Are you okay? Ella said she called you and you sounded weird. Is everything all right with Theo?”

“Y-yes.”

Her stutter on the word convinces me she’s lying. I grind my molars as I think about Theo hurting her.

“What happened?” I ask, letting her know I don’t believe her.

She turns quiet again and the silence grates on my nerves and heats my blood.

After a moment, she replies, her tone firmer than it was seconds ago. It still doesn’t fool me.

“Everything is fine, Luca. I’m just trying to adjust to married life and it’s taking time. Please tell Ella I’m sorry for worrying her, but there’s nothing for her to be concerned about. I’ll call her later.”

“Please open the door, Jules, and let me see you. I promise I won’t come in the house. You can even keep the chain on. I just need to see you, not only for Ella’s sake but mine as well.”

A thump sounds on the door, and I hear her sniffle again before I hear the lock unlatch. The door opens fractionally, but the chain is still in place, preventing it from opening all the way. It both pleases me and sends another stabbing pain to my chest at seeing it, even though I suggested it. She should be cautious of her safety, I just hate it’s against me.

When she peeks through the small gap, I strain against the need to kick the door open so I can see her better. Even so, there’s enough of a gap that I can see she’s lost weight. Jules is already a small woman; she can’t afford to lose more. Her hair is piled on the top of her head, and the shallowness of her cheekbones is pronounced. There’s a frown on her pain-filled face.

“See,” she says quietly. “I’m fine.”

She’s not fucking fine, and that fact angers me. What in the hell is going on between her and Theo to cause her to loseweight and look as though someone killed her childhood dog? It has to be more than her finding out my role in her accident. I don’t mean that much to her to garner such a reaction.

Running my eyes over the exposed skin of her legs, arms, neck, and face, I see no visible marks. I reprimand myself because it’s fucked-up to think of Theo being capable of physically harming her. It’s just an excuse my mind came up with to justify why he’s not right for her.

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