Page 173 of This Bitter Sweet Temptation
All the things he used to be before this stupid thing started.
All the things he wants us to be again.
Holy hell, maybe I reallyamdeluded.
“Somewhere along the way, we made this more complicated than it had any right to be,” he says, trying to be gentle. But his arms are folded, blocking me out. “You know what time it is. So do I. Let’s finish this shit and get on with our lives.”
“Complicated,” I repeat. “Well, you’re right about that, asshole.”
He winces with a fury that almost makes me sad.
Almost.
“Be realistic! You know I’m talking sense,” he snarls. “We let ourselves get distracted. What we need to think about is offloading that egg ASAP. Hell, just leave it with me. You want to send it to that museum, fine. I’ll do the background checks, make sure everything’s in place, and drop it off in a matter of days. You can meet me there.”
“Absolutely not. We’ve come this far… You’re crazy if you think you’ll get rid of me that easy.”
“Not what I meant.” Hurt strains his face.
Whatever.
All business. Because it’s always fucking business with Holden Verity and hearts are an afterthought.
I feel gutted.
And I don’t know if he’s expecting more.
An apology? A delayed acknowledgment that I’m young and emotional and being ridiculous? A delayed confession that he’s so wise?
No way. He’s SOL.
I take off, accidentally banging his shoulder as I storm past him to the stairs, leaving behind my whirlwind of art.
Call me petty, I don’t care.
Right now, I hope it hurts.
I hope he shares a flicker of my pain.
22
DOWN AND OUT (HOLDEN)
When she doesn’t come to my bed that night, I’m not surprised.
Just frustrated as hell.
I put myself in a doghouse built from my own damn blueprint. I roll over and punch the pillow.
The house hums with silence. I think I can hear her breathing in the other room.
After too many nights next to her, I’ve memorized the sound. Not having it with me feels like I’m missing a blanket.
In through the nose, out through the mouth, slow and deep and sweet.
Sometimes she murmurs when she rolls over, releasing this soft sigh of contentment before she snuggles up to me.
I can count my drumming heartbeats between breaths.
