Defiant Heir (The Heirs #3) - Michelle Heard Page 0,23
cracks right down the middle as I say, “I care for you the same way I care for the other girls. I’m sorry I let you think otherwise.”
I hear her get up, and then she comes to stand in front of me. I can feel her gaze on me and lower my eyes in the direction of the floor.
Her hand touches my jaw, and then she nudges my face up. “Don’t look down and tell me we’re nothing more than friends.”
I pull back from her touch and gathering the last of my strength, I keep my voice low and cold as I say, “Stop digging for something that’s not there, Fallon! I don’t have to justify my feelings to you. Fucking drop it already. I’m trying to save our friendship.”
“I…” I hear her suck in a trembling breath. “I just don’t understand.”
“What’s there to understand?” I snap, needing to end this conversation. “I never should’ve asked you on the date. We shouldn’t have been on that road, to begin with.”
Needing to leave because I can’t stomach hurting her more than I already have, I walk in the direction I think the door is. My hand smacks against the wood, and I feel for the knob. As I let myself out, I hear Fallon’s breath hitch before a soft sob escapes her.
Closing my eyes, it’s almost impossible to leave her, but I somehow manage. Shutting the door behind me, I stumble in a broken stupor towards my own bedroom.
My heart feels shredded, but I keep telling myself it’s for the best. I can’t offer Fallon the future she deserves.
It’s for the best.
She’ll find someone who will be able to give her the world.
Once I close the door behind me, I sink to the floor, and I shove both my hands through my hair. I try to breathe past the unbearable pain until I lower a hand to claw at my chest.
It fucking hurts. So much.
God, why didn’t I die?
Chapter 9
FALLON
I have to meet with Dr. Menard at eleven am. You’d think it would be the only thing on my mind, but it’s not. I’m still trying to process everything that’s happened. My emotions are all over the place.
Kao’s words. They keep shredding my heart to pieces.
My guilt is eating away at me, destroying the last of my spirit. I shouldn’t have told Kao to take that route to the restaurant. The accident could’ve been avoided if I’d kept my mouth shut.
Kao blames me.
Through the turbulent mess inside me, fear taints everything with despairing shadows. How am I going to adjust to life with scars? A life without Kao?
While I try to make sense of everything, I’m constantly bombarded with memories of us, which hurt me even more.
My stomach is knotted with nerves as I walk toward Kao, where he’s sitting with the other guys in the living room. We’re all at Jase’s place for a barbeque. My prom’s this coming Friday, and I’m out of time. Either I ask Kao to escort me, or I’ll have to go alone.
Guys from school have asked me, but I said no to them all. There’s only one man I have eyes for, and I’m inches from him.
Kao’s striking gaze drifts to me, and the corner of his mouth lifts. He’s so attractive it stuns me for a moment.
“Where are the other girls?” Jase asks, yanking my attention away from Kao.
The smile on my face trembles from the nervousness pulsing through me as I answer, “The girls are still out back talking about what they’re wearing to the prom.” Turning my gaze to Kao, I ask, “Can we talk?”
A slight frown forms on his forehead as he places his drink on the table. “Sure.”
I gesture to the front door. “Is outside okay?”
The other guys stare at us, and it makes me even more anxious. When Kao stands up, I spin around and hurry out of Jase’s place. I take the steps down the porch and head in the direction of the rock garden.
Lights make the backyard look like a fairyland, but I’m too busy trying to control my breathing to take in any of it.
Reaching the water feature that’s nestled between boulders, I swallow hard before I turn to face Kao, where he stopped behind me. His eyes shine like polished sapphires in the moonlight.
“So… uhm,” I struggle to think of the right words. I’ve practiced what I’d say a hundred times, and now I can’t remember anything.