Page 157 of Traitor

"I don't want to burn it."

Ria steps closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay if you don't want to burn it, Tempe. It's your choice."

I look at her, my eyes sad. I don't know why I can't let go.

"Temper... what is going on with you?" Layla's voice is soft, worried.

I swallow hard, still clutching the cut like it's the only thing keeping me standing. My throat tightens, and before I can think better of it, the words tumble out.

"It's been two weeks. Why hasn't he come to see me?" My voice is barely above a whisper. But it carries. Layla's eyes widen. Ria shifts her weight like she suddenly got uncomfortable. Adora just watches. Quiet. Knowing.

"You know... like he always does?" I keep going, my voice getting stronger. "Butting into my life. Ignoring everything I say. Demanding. Taking. Being infuriating. Asking me to play fucking paintball. To go on a ride. Where are the gifts? The texts?"

Layla's expression turns sad. Too sad. Ria exhales sharply, like she knew this moment was coming and still isn't ready for it.

"Tempe..." Ria's voice is quiet. "He won't come. Not anymore." She hesitates. "Tank told me. He just...," she shrugs slightly, "...he thinks it's better this way. That he leaves you alone. Like you wanted from the start. He doesn't want to hurt you anymore..."

A flash of anger surges through me.

Now? Now he stops?

"So what?" My voice is sharp, bitter. "It was fine before, but now he gives up?"

Layla blinks, her brows shooting up. "Umm... so youwanthim to come? To keep bugging you?"

My mouth opens. Then closes.

Fuck.

What am I doing? What the fuck am I doing?

Why am I still running circles around myself? Why am I hiding from my own goddamn truth?

I inhale sharply, my fingers tightening around the cut before I force myself to look at them. Look at the friends around me.

"I need help," I admit. The words feel raw, torn straight from my soul. I swallow hard, force the rest out. "I think... I think I can't let Bones go. I don't think I ever let him go."

My chin trembles. My vision blurs. But I keep going.

"I'm afraid of telling him that." I drop my gaze to the cut in my hands, then back at them. Layla. Ria. Adora. "I... I liked it when he held me. So much. Too much. And I just... I'm afraid to tell him that while he was playing his guitar for me, I couldn't even look at his face because all I wanted to do was go to him and kiss the life out of him."

Ria's eyes practically pop out of her skull.

"What?! You didn't tell me that!"

I look at her helplessly. "I didn't even admit it to myself until just now..."

"Tempe," Ria huffs, planting her hands on her hips. Dangerous. "Youdoknow that if you kiss that psycho biker even once, you're never getting rid of him, right?"

She doesn't give me a second to respond.

"Now's your chance. You kicked the puppy, and you kicked him good enough that he's not coming back. But if you go to him? His stalker persona is going to go upat leasta thousand levels. His obsession? Sky-fucking-rocketing. That's it. You're done for. You'll be adopting a biker for the rest of your life."

She levels me with a stare. "So you need to think real hard about what you want to do." Her eyes flick down to the cut still clutched in my hands.

I purse my lips. "I could get rid of him again if I wanted to..." I mumble, but even I don't sound convinced.

Then I sigh and tilt my head back, looking up at the sky.

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