Page 53 of Faking It With the Small-Town Bad Boy

a failure. I feel weak, useless, and tainted. All of it.”

I finally come to a stand, instantly wrapping my arms around his

sides. He looks shocked, his eyes widening, but he eventually holds

me in return. The broom falls to the floor, sliding off the body of the

car where he leaned it upright, and with my arms squeezing the life

out of his midsection, I feel something.

I feel Percy Elrod flinch.

“What’s wrong?” I whisper into his chest.

He shakes his head, his cheek resting down on the top of my head.

“Nothing is wrong.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Then tell me the truth,” he urges. “Go ahead. Tell me what’s wrong,

Leah.”

I can see he’s only going to build those walls up higher and dig those

trenches deeper. He’s shut off, and I know it’s hard for him to share.

But I thought I had made that so easy for him to do. Still, it’s only

been a few days since we agreed to this. I can’t say that I agree with

his method of coping, but I can’t tell him to just spit it out, either.

In the end, that will be his decision.

All I can do is be honest with my side of things.

“You’re wrong,” I sigh.

“About what, Leah?”

“I’m not confident. I hate myself more days than I love myself. I’m

not successful, either. Unless you think losing the family house,

ruining my dad’s shop, and having to tell fifteen customers that their

cars will never be finished because I’m understaffed and

overwhelmed—then sure, I’m successful in that regard.”

He inches back, his hands resting lazily on my sides. “Why didn’t you

tell me this sooner? I could help you somehow.”

“Because it’s not your job to save me, Percy. It’s mine.”

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