Page 59 of Breaking Blaze

Anna sighed, pressing her pounding head against the cold tile of the shower. She’d spent all of last night and this morning packing, sorting, and attempting to keep the tears at bay.

She was actually doing it. She was moving, leaving Blaze, the memories, and heartache behind.

Except…the memories and the heartache would follow her, wouldn’t they? No matter how far or fast she ran, they would remain with her, burning her over and over again. Because that’s what Blaze was; a fire. One she stupidly thought she could hold in her hand without being scorched.

Rinsing the last of the conditioner from her hair, she shut off the shower and reached for the towel, quickly and efficiently drying herself.

Sally had said she was headed out to grab more boxes, which gave Anna time to wallow just a little longer without prying eyes and pitying glances. Sally meant well, but Anna could see that all this shit with Blaze was making her friend uncomfortable. But like usual, Sally powered through it, taking it on like a battle eagle swooping in to snatch the victory from the jaws of the lion.

Crossing the hall from the bathroom to her bedroom, Anna dressed in yoga pants, socks, and….one of Blaze’s shirts. A soft, sad smile formed on her lips. She remembered the night she’d ended up with that shirt. Blaze had come straight from work smelling like man, sweat, and lumber, and Anna had commented on how he’d smelled like a manly Christmas tree. He knew she loved Christmas so he’d pulled the shirt right off his back, tossed it at her, and proceeded to spend the rest of the evening shirtless. Anna had been tickled by the gesture but also turned on by the sight of Blaze’s hot, bulging muscles as they flexed with even the slightest movements.

That night ended when he’d gotten a call from a woman and left, telling her not to wait up for him. Once again, he’d chosen another woman over her.

Sour coated her tongue at that part of the memory.

God. She hated thinking about him and all those women.

Yeah, but now you’re one of those women. Just like the rest. A hook up that just happened to be a virgin. You weren’t the first and you won’t be the last.

Fuck that voice and its nastiness.

Swiping at the tears she hadn’t even known she was crying, Anna practically stomped from her room. Heading down the hall she lifted her face and stopped breathing.

Blaze was standing at the end of the hallway, staring at her. Usually larger than life, his shoulders were slumped, his cheeks were thinner than she remembered, and his eyes weren’t as blue.

He looked like shit.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” she snapped, every ounce of anger and hurt rising to the surface.

“I came to talk to you,” he answered, his voice raspy.

She snorted. “You can forget that. The time to talk was back in your office, but you fucked that up, didn’t you?” Fuck, tears were gathering in her eyes and they were going to spill whether she wanted them to or not.

“I know I fucked it up, Anna. I fucked it all up. But I need you to give me a chance to explain,” he pleaded, taking a step closer to her. His big, capable hands reaching out to touch her but hesitating.

She took a step back and scowled at him.

“The only thing I need to do is pack my shit and get the hell out of this town,” she retorted, crossing her arms over her braless chest. Shit. She should have given some thought to what she was wearing—not that she expected to be face to face with the man who broke her heart…and worshiped her body—before crushing her soul.

Blaze ran a hand through his hair, which only made the already disheveled locks stand up.

“Look, I know you want to leave, but please, for the sake of the friendship we first had, give me five minutes.”

Ugh, he had to go there.

Junior year, Blaze had been her hero, the man who’d hung the moon and stars. The best friend who never made her feel like a burden and always made sure to make her laugh. Back then, they’d been inseparable. They’d been perfect together—at least she’d thought so. And then, one day, it all changed.

And she’d never figured out why.

So, now’s your chance. Let him talk. The worst that can happen is you cry some more. What’s another gallon of tears?

She rolled her eyes. “Shit,” she hissed, dropping her arms and pointing to his broad, hard as hell chest. “Fine. Five minutes. But the second those five minutes are up, you get the fuck out of my apartment, out of my life, and you never come back.”

He jerked, his large body seeming to freeze, his eyes widening and his mouth dropping open. So, he didn’t like those conditions. Whatever the fuck. Didn’t matter to her.

Lord, she was good at lying to herself.

Seconds passed as a movie reel of emotions flickered over Blaze’s face. Finally, he clamped his mouth shut and nodded. He turned and walked into the living room, which was suddenly way too small for two people, Blaze’s very presence bigger than life…even though he looked diminished.

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