Page 56 of Second Goal

“It’s your name, Kiley. What am I supposed to think?”

My hands are shaking when I put his phone down on the counter, turning my back to him.

“I need the truth. All of it.”

My voice is a whisper when I say, “I told you everything.”

“The truth, Kiley.”

Don’t cry, my head warns. But tears already burn the back of my eyes. I take a steadying breath and crawl inside the numbness that’s been my greatest friend over the years.Don’t feel. Don’t feel. Don’t feel.

But it doesn’t work. Not this time. I feel Blake’s accusations like a million knife wounds to my chest.

“Where did you get this?” I ask him.

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is you telling me why your name is on file at a methadone clinic six months ago.”

I turn slowly, meeting his gaze. But I don’t shrink under the intensity of it. “I don’t know.”

He takes a step toward me, and there’s no tenderness in his expression, just a hardness that confirms my biggest fear - he’ll never trust me.

Frustration and anger sizzle out, and finally, the numbing relief fills me. I close my eyes, accepting the solace of not feeling.

“I don’t blame you for not believing me. I mean, I’m a murderer, so why wouldn’t I be all those other things you’re accusing me of.”

“I’m not accusing you—”

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m just trying to understand, Kiley.” He reaches for me, and I step away.

“How? By tracking my phone and having someone dig into my past? Do you think that’s normal?”

“If you’d just been honest with me from the start—”

“It’s my life. Mine. Not yours. You think you’re some knight in shining armor protecting me. But the only reason you’re doing any of this is because you’re scared.”

“You’re right, I’m scared,” he yells. “I’m scared of losing you.”

Silence stretches between us, our ragged breaths the only sound filling the tense space between us.

“You’ve already lost me,” I say softly. Knowing I have to walk away. For both of us. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me. Someone who’ll never love me as much as I love him.

“Kiley—”

I put my hand up when he starts to move closer. “Don’t.”

He ignores my protest, removing the distance between us. Reaching out and places a hand on my cheek, and for a moment, I don’t draw away. It’s so easy to fall into him, to accept the strength he offers. But that’s all he can give me.

“All I’ve ever done is try to protect you.”

My palm rests on his chest, and I hold his gaze. “But who’s going to protect me from you?”

“I would never hurt you.”

“You just did.”

Blake sucks in a breath. “Kiley, I—”

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