Page 181 of Love Arranged
I laugh, which spurs her on.
“None of this is funny.” Her voice shakes as her hands curl into fists by her side.
“I’m sorry.” I sober up. “If you want the car, I’ll give it back.”
“In the same condition you stole it in?”
I stop grinding my teeth together long enough to answer her. “No.”
“You’re…”
“Yes?”
“The most infuriating man I’ve ever met.”
“We both know that’s not true.” Not while Richard is alive, at least.
She walks over to my car with a groan and waits by the passenger side. I don’t unlock it until I can grab the handle and open the door for her.
She doesn’t climb in.
“You’re not making this process any easier for me,” she says softly.
“I can’t stop caring about you, Lily.”
Her brows furrow. “If the last forty-eight hours are a sample of what that looks like, I’m better off without it.”
“These last two days have been hell for me too.”
“Good.”
Who knew it was possible to pack so much sass into one single word?
Wanting to prolong our longest conversation since the night of the debate, I play with one of her face-framing braids and say, “I scheduled a session with Doctor Martin.”
The spark of anger in her eyes dies, along with whatever she was about to say when her lips part.
“I have no idea if it’ll work out, but I’ll try anything at this point,” I add when she doesn’t speak.
“That’s…great. I’m happy for you.”
I’m surprised by her comment. “Really?”
“Yeah. I still want the best for you.” Her shoulders curl in on themselves.
“You say it like it’s a bad thing.”
“Because I’m the one who always gets hurt.”
“Which is why I’m getting help.” My arms become a cage, trapping her between my body and the car.
It won’t be an easy process, but it could be a rewarding one, so long as I learn to work through my trauma and manage my anxiety, obsessions, and compulsions.
Ineedto.
I’m tired of running, both from my past and my future. It’s a pattern that needs to end because, as much as it absolutely pains me to admit it, Trevor called me out on my biggest issue during the debate.
I don’t fight when things get too hard.
