Page 88 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

His eyes spark. “For what?”

“You know for what. For defendin’ me. You didn’t have to do that. No one’s ever—” I bite back the sudden sting in my throat. “Ever done that for me before.”

The muscle in his jaw tightens. “Don’t thank me for that shit, Becca. And don’t let people talk to you that way.”

“You talked to me that way.” I tilt my head, wanting him to explain it away. To tell me why he likes to play with my emotions so much. I want to beg him to pick a damn lane and stay in it, so I can cast him as the villain or the hero. I don’t know what to do when he’s both.

He doesn’t do any of those things, just swallows, his arms crossing over his broad chest.

I brush the hair from my eyes, shifting on my feet. “Besides, I can’t control people’s actions, Eli, I learned that a long time ago. I can only control my reaction.”

“Believe me, I know.”

His arms uncross and he takes a step forward. My heart batters against my sternum. I swear if I took a deep breath, our chests would touch.

“Tell me why, Becca.” The deep timbre of his voice rumbles through every inch of my body.

I suck in a breath, my eyes closing against the fireflies lighting up my stomach.

Up until this point, I thought I had made peace with my decisions, but in this moment, I want to tell him I take it back. I want him to know how badly I didn’t want to leave. How I broke my own heart in half and left the bigger piece with him.

But I don’t. I can’t. Rehashing the past won’t change the present.

I glance behind him, reminding myself of all the reasons why my feelings don’t matter. Namely, his fiancée. She’s still on her phone, standing in front of the shop’s front door. But her eyes are on us.

I move away until my back hits the side of my car, the metal frame hot against my skin.

“There’s nothin’ to tell, Eli. Just let it go.” My heart revolts against the words. It’s the same line I use on his sister, but it doesn’t work as well on him.

He shakes his head, stepping into me. “Don’t give me that bullshit. I deserve to know.”

A hurricane of emotion rages in his blue eyes, promising to take me down in its storm.

My gut squeezes so tight, I’m afraid I’ll faint. I bite my lip, shaking my head.

Let it go, Eli.

His hand flies out, smacking against the roof of the car. The sound makes me jump, but my body sizzles from the heat of his arm. My skin tingles as energy dances off my skin, flaring in its excitement.

I know his fiancée is watching. I know I should push him back—do something to break this moment, but I’m rooted to the ground. Unable to even breathe through the thickness of the air.

His head angles down, those dark, blond strands flopping on his forehead, his breath tickling my cheek.

“Please,” he whispers.

My stomach clenches, my heart lurching against the wall I’ve wrapped around it.

Elliot Carson doesn’t beg. But he’s begging for this.

And I know I’ll give in—give him whatever he wants. Maybe if I do, it will appease the hands of fate and they’ll stop tormenting me with his presence. Maybe they’ll let me close the door and finally move on. To stay strong in my belief that I’m not the one for him, no matter how bad I crave to be.

I inhale, my lips parting.

“Hey, honey. Ready to go?” Sarah’s voice shocks me out of the moment, my mouth snapping shut.

Eli’s eyes clear, and he takes a step back, running a shaky hand through his hair.

I hold my breath, afraid that Sarah will notice the way my chest is heaving. The way my nerves are screaming from Eli’s almost touch.

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