Page 146 of Heresy

“Sorry. The bed’s not that big, and you weigh a lot more than me. When you dropped down, I was practically bounced over there.”

Even if I’ll never know what it feels like to be inside her body, I can still explore what’s going on in that head of hers.

“You had a panic attack again.”

Nodding, she attempts to hide behind the length of her long brown hair. “I did.”

“Is that a common thing? It’s happened twice in the span of time I’ve known you.”

Soft laughter bubbles over her lips, more sad than happy.

“Three times actually, but you didn’t get to see the one I experienced during fight night at Myth. Granted, it wasn’t as bad.”

“Why not?”

I feel like an asshole that the last few panic attacks she’s had were my fault. Not that I knew she was at Myth that night, but I still had something to do with it.

Sighing, she puts the book down she was attempting to read before I disturbed her. Apparently, she’d made sure to pack a few before we left home.

“Truth?”

I grin. “If you’re capable of it.”

She glances at me and scowls. It’s not the glare I love, but it’ll do.

“I have a particular fear of cars. My mother died in a car accident when I was twelve.”

“And you were in the car?”

She shakes her head.

“No, thankfully. I wouldn’t be sitting here now if I was. But the accident made the news, and despite my dad attempting to keep me from seeing the photos and videos, I saw them anyway.”

Pausing, she takes a steadying breath.

“Let’s just say there wasn’t much car left after it happened. And I assume not much left of my mom either.”

Now I feel like an asshole for pushing her limits in the car the other night. Hell, not just the other night. Every time she sits in the passenger seat.

“Okay, so I’m a complete dick. I had no idea.”

Glancing my direction, she returns to hiding behind what looks like extremely soft hair. My hand fists with the desire to wrap my fingers in it.

No, Shane…

She’s not for you to touch like that.

The longer I’m around her, the more I need to remind myself of it.

And ain’t that some shit?

Priest and the twins would have a fucking field day if they knew.

“You don’t know me,” she finally says, interrupting my internal struggle. “How could you have known why I am the way I am?”

It’s getting more difficult for me to know her. Especially when there isn’t one thing about her I don’t like. She’s mouthy, yes. Normally, I hate that. But with Brinley, that mouth of hers is quickly becoming something I want to taste and bite so I can shut it up.

I wonder if I kissed her now, would she glare? I’m not sure I could handle it.

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