Page 50 of Twisted Truths
Gabriel pauses by my side, his brows knitting together. “Hadley…”
“I need to see him,” I say, my voice stronger. “One last time. I need to explain. He needs to know it wasn’t a mistake.”
Gabriel doesn’t ask me what I mean. He simply watches me with an unreadable expression.
Finally, he nods once. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I repeat warily.
He sighs. “I get it, Hadley. You don’t have to explain it to me.”
Gabriel gets it.
He remembers what it feels like to be so connected to someone it physically hurts to walk away.
“I’m sorry?—”
“Go,” he says softly, cutting me off. “You’ve got ten minutes. I’ll be in the truck.”
I swallow hard. He’s trusting me to go alone?
“Go,” he repeats, a little more firmly. “The clock is ticking.”
The invisible string pulls tighter, and this time I don’t fight it.
I make my way back across the road, retracing my steps towards the church. Towards Nash. My heart hammers against my ribs as I weave through the crowd until I spot Zara’s brother. My feet stall. He’s hugging a pretty blonde girl, and my chest constricts.
What am I doing?
I can’t approach him in front of everyone.
What if he calls me out as a Sunfire Circle traitor?
Worse, what if he shunsme?
I don’t think I could take his silence, his eyes turning cold, like our kiss never meant anything to him at all.
My nerves get the better of me, and I stumble up the steps of the church, needing to compose myself before I return to Gabriel. I slip through the door, the sound of it closing behind me echoing through the vacant space. Leaning against the wall, I close my eyes and try to calm my breathing.
He’s better off without me. Now his family has been laid to rest, Nash needs to leave. He needs to go back to the States and live his basketball dream.
So why the hell is it so hard to walk away?
I glare down at my feet. One step in front of the other, I tell them. Go back to Gabriel and accept your life.
The door beside me bursts open, and I gasp as my eyes meet intense chocolate ones.
Nash’s chest rises and falls as if he’s just run a marathon. I’m rooted to the spot as he stalks towards me, not slowing until his body hits mine, forcing me back against the wall. His lips meet mine in a demanding kiss, his strong hands cup my face, my skin burning up from his touch.
I’m overwhelmed by the force of his desire, but still, I open for him, meeting his tongue stroke for stroke. Everything fades to the background, and it’s only the two of us pouring every ounce of our souls into this kiss.
“You’re here,” he murmurs against my lips before claiming my mouth again.
“I’m here.”
Chapter Eighteen
NASH
