Page 119 of All We Need

My shoes scuff across the floor asIshuffle closer. “Thatdoesn’t work on me anymore.Pushingme away is only going to make me try harder.Didhe not show up?”

She stiffens.

Anger pools in my stomach at the thought ofMartinstanding her up.Ifind it hard to believe, considering his reaction earlier in the week.

I raise my hand to cup her cheek, voice tender. “Josays you’ve been here for hours.Let’scall it a day.”

For a second, her muscles slacken, and she leans into the touch.

“You can trust me,Silver,”Iwhisper.

Like she’s stepped on a live wire, her eyes ping open and she jumps to her feet. “Don’tcall me that.”

Taken aback,Ichoose my next words carefully. “Didsomething happen?”

“Yes.No.It’s…”Shereleases a tense breath. “Thiswas a mistake.Weshould have stuck to one night.”

My head snaps back at the abrupt change in direction.

I’m used to her sharp words, but these hit differently.Theseare tipped with venom, made to harm.Andthey strike me square in the chest.

My knees scream in pain.I’mat her feet, because when amInot?I’vefallen without warning.There’sno time to gauge how close the ground is untilI’mmeeting the concrete face-first.

Smack.

WhenAlydraws arms, backing down isn’t the solution.You’vegot to fight fire with fire.

Rising to my full height,Ibrush off my pants. “Ididn’t take you as a liar.”

With eyes wide—in shock or anger, who knows—she points at the door.

“Get out and go do your job,” she spits.

I lean forward, eyes narrowing. “Isthat what you want?Becausenot five days ago, you were singing a different tune.Cryingout my name and falling asleep in my arms.Suredidn’t seem like a mistake then.”

“People do stupid things when they need to get laid.You’vefulfilled your duties.Welldone.”Shecrosses her arms, stance wide as she prepares for war. “You’redismissed.”

I’m not surrendering.Ifthis is how she wants to get out her frustrations, then so be it.I’llbe her punching bag.I’lltake each hit gladly if it means she quits hiding.

“Is that all you’ve got,Silver?”Idig. “Orare you ready to be honest?”

Sage and lavender stuns me when she steps into my space, andIbite back a groan.

“How’s this for honesty?” she barbs. “Youuse humor andstupidity to stop people from looking too closely.Ifyou dropped the act, they’d all see whatIsee.”

“And what’s that?”Ipress closer, our fronts flush.

“You’re not scared of letting your family down, but of going after what you want.It’san excuse.”Shejabs me in the chest. “You’rescared of failing.”

I’m not sure what response she was hoping for, butIdoubt it was this.

I snatch up her wrist and smash our lips together.

However this ends, we’re going out fighting.

She gasps asIbite down on her plump bottom lip before sucking it into my mouth.Herhands grip my shirt to push me away, butIfist the back of her hair, sealing our fate.Shemeets me with fervor.

Pain, anger, and raw desire fuel this kiss.

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