Page 159 of Possessive Sinner

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"Try again," Jenna says, clearly enjoying this.

I shoot her a look. She grins. I exhale slowly, my grip tightening on the cup.

"He makes me feel like…" I stop, then force the words out anyway. "Like I'm standing on the edge of something. And I don't know if I should step forward or run."

I look away, then add, "Like I could fall."

"Or fly," Violet says softly.

I look at her. Her smile is small but knowing. Jenna leans back, satisfied. "Yeah. That tracks."

"That's not a good thing," I argue weakly.

"That depends," Jenna counters. "Do you trust him?"

I hesitate. Because that's the real question, isn't it? Do I trust Gabe? More than that, do I trust myself with him?

"I don't know," I admit.

Violet nods. "That's okay. Trust takes time."

Jenna rolls her eyes. "Attraction doesn't."

Heat creeps up my neck. "I'm not?—"

"Please," Jenna cuts in. "The way you said his name earlier? You're not subtle."

I groan, dragging a hand over my face. "Oh my God."

Violet laughs softly. Jenna leans forward again, and her voice drops just a fraction. "Let me ask you something else. When you're with Gabe… do you feel smaller?"

The question catches me off guard, but there is only one answer to it. "No."

"Less?" she presses.

"No."

"Like you have to hide parts of yourself to make him comfortable?"

Something tight in my chest loosens. "No," I whisper.

Jenna nods once. "Then that's your answer."

I stare at her.

"That's not an answer," I argue.

"It is," she disagrees simply. "It just scares you."

Violet reaches out, her hand brushing lightly over mine.

"You can love Pete," she says gently. "And still admit that what you feel for Gabe is different."

"Stronger," Jenna adds.

"Don't," I warn. But it's weak enough that not even I believe it.

The next day…

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