Page 107 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

“I don’t like you like that,” I tell him. “And I know it isn’t what you want to hear, but I don’t see my feelings changing anytime soon, if ever. The you and me ship?” I wiggle my finger between us. “It sailed a while ago, Burrows. To be honest, it’s long gone. Like over the horizon never to return kind of gone.”

His fingers graze along the inside of my wrist, but the butterflies I know should be present are missing. It’s like when Colt touches me. All I feel are calloused hands. No zing. No goosebumps. Nothing.

For some reason, it only aggravates me more. It’d be easier if I liked Burrows. If I was able to compare what I feel for Theo to someone else and to have it hold a candle to my feelings for the bastard. But the truth is? There is no comparison. There’s never been a comparison. With anyone.

“Why?” Burrows whispers, bringing me back to the present.

I shift my gaze from his touch to his brown eyes and pull my hand away from him. “Do I need a reason?”

“No, but if you have one, I think I deserve to hear it. Especially if it involves someone else.”

“I already told you––”

“I know what you said. But I think you’re full of shit.”

“I’m not full of shit,” I argue. “And even if I was––which trust me, nothing will come of it––I can’t help it if I have feelings for someone else.”

“Especially when that someone doesn’t deserve you,” he mutters.

With a laugh, I nod and get back to massaging his legs. “On that, we agree.”

“You gonna do anything about it? Let him do anything about it?”

I shake my head again. “What’s the point? Like I said, I need this internship. I need the future it’ll bring me if I don’t screw it up. I like the people I get to meet and the things I get to learn. I’m not going to give it up for a guy like him, as you so eloquently reminded me a few minutes ago.”

“Yeah. Well. Good. Because he doesn’t deserve you,” he repeats.

“Again. On that, we agree,” I quip.

“You gonna come to the Taylor House tonight?”

“And witness said reasons why a certain someone doesn’t deserve me?” My nose wrinkles. “No, thank you.”

“Come on. We’ll go together,” he suggests.

My gaze narrows.

“As friends,” he clarifies.

Friends.

Sure.

Been there. Done that. It was not successful. So, nope. No, thank you.

Patting his thigh, I reply, “Unfortunately, I have plans. But thanks for the offer. Now roll over. We’re going to do a few more stretches.”

And even though he grumbles something under his breath, he does as he’s told, and I’m left feeling lighter than I’ve felt in weeks.

33

BLAKELY

Big Red cinnamon gum is sitting on my windshield along with a Vitamin water. I bite my lip to keep from smiling as I pick them up and put them onto my passenger seat.

No note.

Again.

---