Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
When I remain silent, she slips further inside the room before leaning against the door frame.
“Want to talk?”
I snort.
Hell, no.
“Austin…” Her voice trails off as if she’s unsure how to voice her concerns.
She should really know better by now. I know what she’s thinking without her having to verbalize it.
Call it a twin thing.
Taking pity on her, I mutter, “You know that I’m not really in the mood for company, right?”
“Yeah, but I really hate seeing you like this.”
I don’t like it any better than she does, but there’s nothing I can do except move through it the best I can.
What’s the alternative?
Exactly. There aren’t any.
“You’re just so…sad.” Her concern is palpable.
I jerk my gaze away to stare at the ceiling. As close as Summer and I are, this isn’t a topic I want to discuss with her. In the end, it won’t do a damn bit of good.
I fucked up.
And there’s no way to fix it.
My twin is nothing if not tenacious. Usually, it’s one of her finer qualities. Not in this situation, though. What she needs to do is leave me alone to lick my wounds in private.
Is that really too much to ask?
From the corner of my eye, I watch her hover in the doorway.
Apparently so.
“Have you tried talking to her again?”
“Nope.” I force myself to state the truth. “She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
That acknowledgment is like shoving my heart through a meatgrinder.
Over and over again.
I just want the pain to stop.
Even if it’s just for one fucking minute.
“I don’t think that’s true. I saw the way Delilah looked at you the other day in the cafeteria. She still cares, Austin. If you really have feelings, then maybe you need to fight for her.”
Have feelings?
That’s not even a question.
What I’m trying to do is abide by her wishes and give her the space she needs to heal.
Summer has no idea what happened with Delilah, and I’m sure as hell not going to tell her. It’s impossible to think about all the things I did without shame rushing in to fill me. Not only did she have Jasper tormenting her, but then I blackmailed her into doing what I wanted.
“She asked me to let her go, and that’s exactly what I did.”
Exasperation shimmers from Summer in heavy waves as she shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “Guys are such blockheads.”
My lips twitch. Can’t argue with that. Her assessment of the situation is spot on.
“Look, you’ve given her enough time for the dust to settle. Now you need to have a conversation and see if she still feels the same way. For all you know, she’s missing you just as much as you are her.”
Doubtful.
Plus…
I see her around school and watch her when she’s not aware of it.
Am I venturing into stalker territory?
Possibly.
What I can’t deny is that she’s flourishing and finally coming into her own. She’s making more friends and putting herself out there. She’s no longer hiding behind her camera the way she used to.
It’s fucking amazing to see, and I’m happy for her.
It’s exactly what she deserves.
Only the best.
And obviously, that’s not me.
When Summer continues to stare, I huff out a breath. “If I tell you that I’ll think about it, will you go away and leave me in peace?”
Her eyes narrow and her lips thin as she gives the question serious consideration. “Yes.”
“Then I’ll think about it.”
Bleakness fills her expression as her shoulders slump.
That’s all it takes for guilt to prick me.
When I say nothing more, she pushes away from the doorjamb. “I really hope you do. I’d hate for you to lose something amazing because you’re being a stubborn jackass.”
I can’t help the snort that escapes from me.
With that, she slips from the room and closes the door quietly behind her.
As the heavy silence settles around me, I can’t stop Summer’s words from circling through my brain. The longer I think about it, the more I wonder if she might be right.
Am I just fucking things up even more?
It’s a question without an answer.
DELILAH
I’m not sure what wakes me from a sound sleep. All I know is that one minute, I’m dreaming and the next, my eyes are flying open and I’m staring into the velvety darkness that surrounds me, searching for…something.
My skin prickles with awareness, but there’s nothing.
Nothing is out of place.
The air is still.
Undisturbed.
With an aggravated huff, I roll onto my side, only wanting to get sucked back under into slumber and the dreams swirling around in my head. Even though school has improved under the new headmistress’ guidance, there’s still a sadness within me that is impossible to shake.
And I know exactly who is at the root of my melancholy.
It’s frustrating. I want to return to the point when Austin Hawthorne didn’t exist in my world. When he didn’t consume all of my waking thoughts. When I wasn’t bombarded with constant memories that make me long for something that’s no longer possible.