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I was cold I didn’t knohere I was going Even as a light flicked on, I wasn’t sure I knehere I was

He really hated me, didn’t he?

Eva had it all wrong He didn’t like me Not at all

How could I have been so very stupid?

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I dropped to the seat under a trellis and buried my face in my hands I could still see and hear the party, so I clearly hadn’t gone far

That was pro news

I was so silly

How could I have ever thought Miles liked e who—

Gravel crunched under feet not far from me, and I looked in that direction

I’d know those steps anywhere

Even if I were blind, I’d know hi?

“What do you want?” I asked coldly, trying to keep the true scale of my emotions out of my voice

“Couldn’t leave you out here alone” Miles ca Take my jacket”

I shook my head and looked away into the darkness “No, thank you I would rather not”

“Don’t be a hero”

“I’d prefer if you’d stop trying to be one yourself”

“Gabriella” He sighed “Coht away”

“It’s fine I’ain and walked towards hi past him, but he had other ideas

Miles stoppedmy hand “Bloody hell, fine I didn’t want to be friends with you because I knew this would happen”

I inclined my head his way

“Because if ere friends, I knew there wasn’t a bloody chance in hell I wouldn’t fall for you”

I sed

“Does that answer your question, princess? Do you want to shout at e that I’ve held you at ars for you isn’t appropriate?”

I turned and looked up at hilad I couldn’t fully see him because of the darkness

“And that I’ve sat here at this bloody party all night pretending like I fit in, watching you speak to a ton of people I don’t know? Watching other men talk to you like they know that all they have to do is talk about house plants to get your attention?”

“Miles—”