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"I’m sorry," I blurt, and turn onround, and out of the doors My footsteps echo in the dark parking lot as I sprint forin the back of my throat I don’t knohat happened back there, how I could just fall apart with one look froain, feeling everything so fresh and fierce, as if for the first time

How could I be so stupid to think I’d ever be over hi afterfor et away, before he can see lance

"What, I don’t even get a thank you?"

Emerson’s voice echoes, sarcastic, in the empty lot

I stop Suddenly I’ apart so easily after all this ti, fists-clenched furious

I whirl around "Thank you?" I spit back at hih and fevered "What the hell was that in there? You could have killed him!"

Emerson folds his ar in the shadows, his body coiled, dark and forbidding "He deserved it"

I feel the anger boil up in me Now I remember it: the dark side to Emerson’s passion The jealous streak, the possessive arm around my shoulder I used to feel safe in it, treasured, like I was the irl in the world, but this is different He has no right to act like I belong to hirily

"Didn’t look like it to me" Emerson’s voice is a lol

I bridle at the ownership in his tone "I had it all under control You just don’t knowflickers across his face even in the dark, and I feel a stab of regret slice through me Oh God, I shouldn’t have said that Then his harsh look fades away, and for a moment, Emerson’s eyes meet mine: nad and vulnerable

"You came back," he says softly He takes a half-step towards er, I findfor him to touch me--sweep me in his arms, like before