Page 127 of My Lovely Tragedy
I’m swallowed whole.
“I’ve pulled up directions to the city, but once you get on the highway, it’s nearly a straight shot. You shouldn’t have any trouble.”
“You—you’re not coming with me?” He shakes his head before I finish.
“No, darling. I’m staying here.”
“But I-I don’t have a car.” My brows tunnel, and nausea swirls around in my stomach, and every bit of breakfast threatens to come back up.
“I know. You will take mine.”
I rear back, dislodging his hold on me. “I can’t take your car!”
“Why not?” he asks, sounding genuinely puzzled.
“Becauseyouneed your car?” It comes out like a question because is hedaft?
“I have a truck, too, my love. You needn’t worry about me.”
I try shoving his phone against his chest, but he steps back this time, leaving my arm dangling in the air. “I don’t need you to give me shit, Tobias.” Even as I say it, I glance down at myself. Athisclothes on my body because when he tried to hand me my own, baggy, ill-fitting ones, I refused.
Sick.
“You do,” he argues gently. “And there is nothing wrong with that. I am the one who disarmed you, to begin with. Who stripped you of… too much,” he concedes. “You also need a way back into the city, and my car is the only option.”
“Then let me take your truck.” I flip his phone in my hand, catching my reflection. I jerk away with a wince before shoving it in my pocket. That makes Tobias smile warmly, so I pin him with an extra nasty glare.
“My truck isn’t as reliable for long distances. I would feel much better if you took my car.”
“Jesus fuck, would you stop fuckingarguing with me!How the hell am I even supposed to give youanyof your vehicles back, anyway? Huh? Did you think about that?” My voice is hoarse from screaming so loudly in the short distance between us, leaving the vacancy echoing.
Tobias gives me thislook.Like I’m foolish for not understanding.
I fucking hate it.
I shove my finger into his chest. “Don’t look at me like that.” He steps into my hand until my digit curves uncomfortably.
“I do not intend to get my car back from you,corvus.”
I balk, pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth. “Then…” He nods slowly as he watches me catch onto what he’s saying. What it means.
What it all fucking means.
“So… this is it?” I croak, fingers curling into my palms and digging in deep. “I won’t ever see you again?” His lips curve up. A small smile. Aninsulting smilebecause what the fuck is there to even smile about right now?But… it’s nice, too.
Damn it all.
My chest concaves, and my fingers move to my chest again, clawing and shredding my flesh, down the arch of my throat and through the cotton of his T-shirt. It’s tight and too warm, and itsmells. It smells like him and feels like him and oh, god, oh, God, this is it.
“Shh,baby. Come here. Come on.” Arms pull me forward, and I stumble. We fall to the ground, and I think it hurts, but then again, everything hurts, so what’s a little more?
Tobias hums his lullaby, and the soft, rhythmic vibration lulls me. Keeps me in a lifeless place where it’s all too much and so far away.
“Just breathe,corvus.That’s it. In.” I follow the rise of his chest, pulling in air until he stops, then releasing it as slowly as he does. “Out. Good boy. Good. Let’s do another.”
I shouldn’t let him keep touching me. I shouldn’t allow myself to keep falling into him when I know this is it.
It’s over—just like I wanted.
