Page 65 of Ramshackle
“What’s wrong?” Kellan asks from the center of the room, breaking me from my thoughts. He’s partially turned, like he stopped walking when he realized I was no longer behind him. His dark brows furrow the longer he looks at me.
I push off the doorframe and tuck my hands behind me so he won’t see them shaking. “Nothing. I…I think I’m still a bit wiped from yesterday. Do you mind if I head back?”
He jogs to me. “I’ll walk you back.”
I nudge him playfully, hoping to ease his worry enough that he’ll let me go. “We just got here and I don’t want to hold up your training. I’ll be fine getting back to my room. I’m a big girl.”
Kellan frowns, but he must see something in my expression that begs him not to follow, because he relents with a sigh. “Alright, get some rest. I’ll come check on you in a bit.”
“Sounds good,” I agree with a small smile.
Before he can change his mind, I spin away and make a beeline for the elevator. My steps waver at the sight of Aiden striding toward me.
I keep my gaze on the elevator, hoping he’ll pass me to get to Kellan, but he grabs my arm and stops me in my tracks. “What happened?”
“Nothing happened,” I evade, looking away from him. He’s the last person I want to talk to about what’s going on in my head. “I’m just going back to my room to rest.”
There’s a stretch of silence before he states firmly, “You’re lying.”
I yank my arm from him. “Are we really doing this again? I thought I made it clear last time; I’m not sharing just because you want me to.”
“I know. If you’re not willing to tell me, then…I’ll let it go.”
“I’m not telling—Wait. What did you say?”
“I asked out of concern, but if you don’t want to tell me what happened in your past, then I won’t push you. Not anymore.”
Who is this and what did he do with Aiden?
I stare at him incredulously. There’s no way he’s just…dropping it. Unless…didwhat I say make a difference? We haven’t really had this sort of confrontation since then.
No, there’s no way…
“I don’t believe you,” I argue softly. “You must have found another angle to get what you want. Because I can’t believe that you suddenly decided you don’t want to know anymore.”
“I never said I stopped wanting to know everything,” he replies smoothly. “Just that I’ll stop trying to force it from you. I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me.”
“And if I’m never ready?”
His lips flatten, clearly not pleased with that possible future. “Then I’ll accept it,” he manages slowly.
That’s hard to believe.
But it’s not something I feel like arguing over now. I don’t want to keep talking about…whatever this is. I want distance from that room. I want a distraction.
“We’ll see,” I tell him and walk away.
Aiden follows. “You’ll get lost if you go alone. I’ll escort you.”
And give him the opportunity to try and sneak information I don’t want to share out of me?
No, thanks.
“I’m good. I paid attention on the way down, so I can make it back without a babysitter.”
I push the button to go up, and the elevator doors open instantly. I step inside, spinning and hitting the doors close button while standing in the way of Aiden trying to join me. He could get past me if he pushed by, but he just stands in front of me as the doors begin to close between us.
We stare at one another in silence until the doors shut and the elevator ascends.
