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Without waiting for a response, I slide off the stool and head toward the hallway, but not before I see the strain on his face Oh, I’ve hit a nerve A Bigfoot-sized one His eyes flash with intent and suddenly he’s lifting the bar’s hatch and letting it slains to pound, echoing inet away from him

Not because I’m scared of Shane I’m scared of the fact that when I’ up with Evan fades, at least for a little while It doesn’t matter that irritation pops up in its place It’s too much, too soon

At the base of the stairs, he curves his hand around my elbow and he pullsheavily I don’t knohat’s going on It’s si Every rational part offorthere But I can’t I can’tat me like he doesn’t knohether to shake me or kiss me I don’t knohich is scarier "What the hell did you mean by that?"

With a concerted effort, I think back, but I can’t reo, it must not have been that h to be blowing steam from his ears "Maybe if you can’t take a little criticis it out"

"You don’t know a da about me"

"That’s exactly how I plan to keep it" As soon as the words leave my mouth, I remember what I’d said to kick the hornet’s nest "I don’t care what you’re running frohis naain, the guilt arrives on a shiny, silver platter,in a darkened hallith Shane and his too-big presence I’ve done nothing wrong and yet if I strain to hear, I swear I can hear the gentle ticking of a countdown clock until I do No No, it’ll never happen It can’t

"Why didn’t it work, Willa?" Shane all but whispers "Did he try and tairl?" His eyes are unkind, but there’s so a little tortured Is he attracted to me? If so, he must hate it The worst part? I don’t seem to be quite as ih

When I ainst the hallall, bracing both of his hands on either side ofof being dragged under is wholly unfauilt even aze drops to my ht I fancy being bitten"

Ignoring the unwanted thrill those groords deliver, I search for a way out of this His lips cannot, will not, be allowed to touch ain when I’ve only just breached the surface My skin feels paper-thin and he’s a sharp object "I still love hi to exaaze findsback in where none existed erence is back in place "That has nothing to do with this Don’t flatter yourself"

He’s backing away fro his words Obviously there is a sirl whose heart is elsewhere Briefly, I wonder if I’, if maybe I’ is pointless

I’m not sure where the shaso It’sabout Evan like he did so I was the unfixable one Still auilt and ht in the eye as I back away on shaky legs toward the staircase He looks like sin personified, standing in the shadoith chaotic eyes, hands clenching at his sides as if fighting the need to drag ain"

His only response is ain his jaw I make it to my room and slide down the door before the tears start to fall

Chapter Four

Friday night, I stand in front of the full-lengtha quick shower to rid ain rain, I’d pulled on skinny jeans and a T-shirt that says Bad Samaritan on it

A friendly disclai on h, I’ in Dublin, I’ve been having theave ure out if my screw up could have been avoided I also suspect Shane’s presence has so to explore that worrying notion just yet At theinto the recurring flashback, just to escape hi away fro with me, Evan! Da about what’s on the surface, even though those differences are ly You shouldn’t be anywhere near me"

"Willa, whatever happened in your past, it irl I want to know h credit to decide who I want to be around"

Affected by his words against ive you credit I do But you’ll change yourfroiven hihts prior, focusing more on his brother in the stands who’d recently returned frohanistan with a heavy case of PTSD

Eesture thrown indeal out of theirl who took these pictures because she wanted to show me I e s lance atdown my cheek I swipe at it with a curse, then cross the roo to ask who is on the other side It’s Faith When she sees I haven’t left yet for the night, she siant oversize check à la Publisher’s Clearing House

"Willa Sure, you look lovely, don’t you?" She breezes pastperfu, then?"