Page 75 of Things I Wish I Said
“Your hands,” she whispers in the silence.
I lift my gaze at the same time she reaches out, taking my hands in hers and inspecting each knuckle. Her soft lips turn into a frown, and the memory of how they felt pressed to mine carves at my insides.
“It’s nothing,” I croak.
“You’re bleeding.” She glances up at me, her hazel eyes glittering in moonlight as she blinks the remaining moisture away.
“Most of it’s his,” I say, sliding one of my hands from her grip to cup the side of her face.
God, she’s beautiful.
I swallow, brushing her cheek with my thumb. “Are you okay?”
“AmIokay?” Her eyes widen.
“Yeah, you. Did you think I was worried about me back there?”
“I’m okay.”
I nod, realizing I’m still touching her and drop my hand.
“What’s going to happen now?” Ryleigh asks.
“What do you mean?” I turn and stare out the windshield.
“If this guy is as bad as you say he is, will he . . .” She trails off.
“Retaliate?”
“Yeah,” she says on a sigh.
I think about my answer. I have no doubt he’ll retaliate, but Dustin is calculated. He’s smart. Which means he won’t send a thug to my house tonight. Instead, he’ll bide his time. Strike at the most opportune moment.
I exhale, the breath wheezing from my lungs like a leaky balloon, grateful no one at the party knows anything about Sinclair, including where she lives or who she is.
I couldn’t live with myself if he went after her.
“I don’t know,” I lie.
A minute passes in silence, both of us absorbing my answer.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, after a while.
My gaze jerks back to hers and I shake my head. “Don’t be sorry. This isn’t your fault. I was just angry because I was worried. When he put his hands on you . . .” I shakemy head. “I lost it.”
“But you’re right. I was reckless and had I not gotten involved—”
“I never should have left you. That’s on me.” I point to my chest. “If I had stayed with you, none of this would’ve happened in the first place.”
She drops her head. “Maybe, but . . .”
I pinch her chin with my fingers and tilt her head until her gaze meets mine. “No maybes.”
She bites her lip, the movement drawing my eye.
I fight the groan building inside my chest. The leftover adrenaline in my system needs an outlet, and my body has ideas on how best to help with that.
I use my thumb to drag her lip from beneath her teeth as fire ignites in my chest.
