Page 97 of When Fate Breaks
Blake rolls his lips into his mouth at the same moment I begin to chew on my bottom one again. “Okay,” he says flatly, pushing off the truck and heading for the front door.
My teeth continue to gnaw at my lip the whole way into the house. I noticed Remy’s truck wasn’t in the driveway when we pulled in. I take out my cell phone and see that I don’t have any messages from him. It’s only coming up on 4 p.m., and he said it was going to be a late night.
Why did it have to be tonight?
My feet halt and I look up from my phone when I hear the sound of a door cracking open. It’s only then that I realize that I practically followed Blake into his room in my distraction. I try to brush it off, quickly shuffling a few steps backwards and slipping my phone into my back pocket as Blake turns to face me in the doorway.
“I think I’m going to take a nap for a while and then go work in the greenhouse the rest of the night.”
“Okay,” I mutter through my teeth, my lip still stuck between them.
“That okay?” Blake asks.
I nod, crossing my arms and attempting a smile.
Blake starts to turn away and close the door, then pauses. He lets out huff with his back to me then suddenly turns around, taking the necessary steps to close the distance between us. I don’t even have time to react before he grasps the bottom of my face with one hand, pushing his thumb into my chin hard enough that my lower lip pulls out of my teeth.
“Please stop that,” he whispers.
I don’t respond, my lips remaining parted. Blake’s gaze flicks down to them once before he releases his hold on me, turning to walk back into his room. I find the will to speak just as he’s about to close the door for the second time.
“Thank you,” I blurt. “For going with me today.”
“You’re welcome,” Blake replies, his head not raising to look at me.
“And for the dance,” I add. I don’t know why I added it, but it’s what makes Blake’s eyes meet mine again. His jaw flexes, but he doesn’t say anything as he moves to close the door again.
Just let it go, Annie. Just let it go.
“Blake,” I breathe.
The door freezes in its path, the knuckles of Blake’s hand on it white.
“Yes, Evangeline?” he mutters.
I swallow hard, my mouth opening and closing twice. I take a step forward, my spine steeling and arms falling to my sides. “I’m going to ask you a question,” I say.
Because I don’t have to ask permission.
“Ask it, then,” Blake pushes, taking a step out of the room and matching my challenge.
I refuse to break his searing eye contact, tilting my head back to meet it fully. “Why do you still have that photo?” I whisper.
Blake immediately starts shaking his head. “Evangeline, no.”
“Blake, why?” I urge.
“Please, just don’t,” he grits.
“Please, just tell me,” I plead. We’ve come this far. I can’t just let it go.
“No.”
I rear back as Blake finally tears his eyes from mine, still shaking his head as he starts to walk back into his room.
“Why not?” I push, my arms crossing once again in irritation.
“Because it’s been a long day and I don’t want to talk about it. Just let it go.”
