Page 24 of Breaking Her In

I dial Jess, who answers on the second ring. “Need a pickupnow.”

“Jesus, are you okay?”

“Just get here asap,” I tell her. “I’m dropping you my location. I’ll tell you everything later.”

I hang up on her and lift my bag. I have to get out of here.

I can’t sleep another night in this place, in his room, in hisbed. I can’t fall asleep in his arms or wake up tucked into the cove of his enormous body. Even now, just smelling his scent on the sheets is enough to make me want to curl up in the corner and cry.

The door rattles.

“Lena.”

His voice is low and pained. I don’t answer.

“Just open the door, please.”

It’s not locked, and he knows that. He must be asking in an attempt to make himself appear noble, and not like a man who keeps things from the woman he loves.

“No,” I reply, glancing at the window. The bedroom is on the second floor, but it overlooks the porch roof. I could make it if I climbed out carefully. I sling my bag over my shoulder and tug it open.

“I know what you heard,” he says. “Just let me explain–”

“Go away!” I snap. “I heardeverything. Everything you said tomy father. Do you know how stupid I feel?”

Silence. Then, in a soft, almost broken whisper, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Lena.”

“Well, you did!” I hiss as hot tears spill down my cheeks. “You made me thinkIwas the problem, Colt! You made me think you didn’t want me. And I believed you!”

The door swings open, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin as Colt comes rushing into the room. His eyes are blazing, and I can see he wants to rush straight over to me and snatch me up into his arms, but he doesn’t. He stops a few feet away and stares at me, his gaze intent and pained.

“I was trying to protect you, Lena.”

“No, you were trying to protectyou!”My voice cracks. “And fuck you for that! I loved you, Colt–Iloveyou! Do you have any idea how I felt…?”

My voice trails off. What can I really say? He’s a guy, and I’m a girl. He’s never going to get it.

He moves forward slowly. “I love you too, Lena.”

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

I’m lying. Itdoesmatter. It matters so much that it’s tearing me apart inside.

I stand there silently, head down, staring at the floor, waiting for him to argue with me. Waiting for him to beg for forgiveness.

But he doesn’t. That’s not Colt’s style.

“Ilove you, Lena,” he repeats, and for the first time, I see actual weakness in Colt. It rattles me to my core.

The world is falling apart around me.

He steps forward and reaches out for me as if to take my hand but stops, as though remembering the promise he made to my father. It’s a little late for that, though, isn’t it?

“Can’t take me now?” I taunt, nearly spitting in his face. “Can’t you just grab me and hold me down and force me to stay here?”

Colt pauses, then slowly shakes his head. “If you want to be with me, Lena, it needs to be your choice.”

His sincerity destroys me. I wasnotexpecting that response.

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