Page 207 of Anger

But I made a choice today.

Simple.

I need simple.

My heart and mind can’t handle complicated.

I’m made a choice to let Damon go because I realized that when two damaged people fall in love, it’s not always about healing.

Many times, damaged people only cause more scars when they fight to stay together.

Damon opens my cage door, and I step out with a hesitant foot. Despite how I feel, I allow him to take my hand to lead me down my stairs and back to the private rooms.

Unsure which to pick, he opens the first available then allows me to walk in ahead of him. Thankfully, the room isn’t too bad—a simple stage set in the center for a private dance with one overstuffed chair to the side for one person to watch.

The door closes at my back, then I feel Damon step up behind me, the heat of his body brushing across my skin. He traces one fingertip along my shoulder before planting the softest of kisses there.

It all comes rushing back.

Every discussion we’ve had in these rooms.

Every question I’ve asked that he refused to answer.

The game we eventually played so he would open up about the scars he has.

He inches closer until his chest is against my back, the stupid black angel wings I wear crushed between us.

Damon presses his lips to my ear, and I tremble at the contact.

“You were right,” he says, his voice so soft, I barely hear it over the thump of music outside the room. “The first time I came here was because of a woman.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. I want to tell him to stop, that I don’t need any more of his damn secrets, but I can’t speak around the lump in my throat. It’s difficult to breathe with him so close.

“My brother and I fell in love with Emily in high school. At the time, I thought she was my home, the one person in the world I could run to who would understand me. Accept me. Who would know the nightmare of my life and love me despite it.”

Anger flares inside me.

I don’t understand it.

Every person is allowed their past.

I have no right to care.

But I do care.

Too much.

“Damon—“

I move to step away, but he grabs my arm and holds me in place. It’s not much of a fight. I give in. I want to know.

“She came back into town for her engagement party to Mason. That’s what was happening that night at the governor’s mansion when we first saw each other.”

Engagement to Mason?

“But I thought she’s with your brother.”

His soft laughter causes his chest to shake against my back. “She is. Long story. But she’s the scar that first sent me here. To you.”

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