Page 53 of Reckless Games

And then there’s only silence. Even if I know people celebrate and cheer around us, there’s only him and me in this moment.

His lips on my lips.

My heart in his hands.

His chest open.

Finally, I pull back and watch his gaze shift like the turning of the clock at midnight.

Wishing he wouldn’t release me, even after he does.

“Happy New Year,” I whisper, tugging myself from his grasp.

He catches my wrist when I take another step backward, but I shake my head. Choking on the words that want to get out.

We can’t keep this. And anything past this minute will bring the kind of pain there’s no healing from. If I don’t walk away now, I’ll never be able to.

Adam releases my wrist, and I take another step. I breathe out a suffocating breath and blink back the tears trying to break free. Then I turn and walk away, feeling his eyes on me every step I ascend on the staircase.

I can’t move quickly enough as I head for the front door to the manor. But I need to because I can’t let myself cry here. These walls are for good memories, not sad ones.

When I make it to the door, a line of cars is idled in the large driveway. The same way they were when we arrived, they wait for us now. And while everyone else is still inside celebrating, I climb into the nearest one and slam the door before I can second-guess my decision.

This is the end of our story.

The car pulls away, and I don’t look back, even when I swear I see a figure off in the shadows. Figments of my imagination I’m creating like maybe they could be a reason to stay here. Monsters Adam was afraid would catch me if I got too close, and now I’m materializing them with my thoughts.

I bury my face in my hands and try to hide from this moment. From the chaos tugging me in every direction. It isn’t until we reach the exterior gate that I do look up from where my hands grip my dress in my lap. The trees are cloaked in darkness, and even if the snow brightens the forest, it’s nothing like it looked from inside Midnight Manor.

Out here winter is cold, merciless. An empty chill that will follow me home.

Home.

Is that even what my small town is?

There’s nothing there for me anymore—not even myself. The girl who will return won’t fit in the same way as the one who left.

Adam cracked me open, and even if he tried to fight it, I think I did the same to him.

But I’m running. Like he is, we’re so quick to escape the only thing that’s made us feel—anything.

What am I doing?

“Excuse me.” I lean forward in my seat and grab the back of the one in front of me.

I need to get back there. I need to understand why we can’t find a way to make this work. If he’s the only person I’ve felt safe to be myself around, and I’m the only one he’s shown his true self to, why are we fighting this?

“Yes, miss?” The driver tips his chin up but keeps his focus on the wintery road.

“Is there any way we can turn around? I forgot something.”

My heart.

My hope.

It’s all in that dark manor with a man who is as inevitable as midnight itself.

“Of course, miss.” The driver nods and starts to slow the car, but just as he does, we round a corner, and a pair of headlights are coming directly at us.

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