Riot

“Riot, wait.” Pax is struggling to get up, and no matter how much I wanna go to her, kiss her and tell her everything will be all right, I can’t.

I fucking can’t. Can’t tell her about the past, can’t promise her the present. Can’t put my need for her over Kyle’s life, can’t be selfish when the last time it cost so much, so I turn around and get the hell out.

Because I also can’t say goodbye.

Chapter Seventeen

Paxtyn

He left. He just left, without another word.

Corey has taken away my tray, and has tried to make conversation but my heart’s not in it.

My heart’s broken.

I knew this would happen if I let myself feel things for Riot. Fall for him. Then I stopped fighting it, fell head over heels, and now…

This is my fault. Corey was right.

“You were right,” I tell him as he bustles around my bedroom, straightening my furniture, putting dirty clothes into the laundry basket.

“About?”

“Riot. About meeting with an escort, about thinking this was the answer.”

“But you did it, Pax. You got better.”

Leaning back on my pillows, I think about that. He’s right. Again.

“You should rest, girl.”

“Still. I shouldn’t have kept meeting him. That was a mistake. It’s just that he’s so...nice.”

“And handsome,” Corey helpfully adds.

“Thoughtful.”

“And damn hot.”

“Shut up, Corey.” I swallow hard. “Stop being right for a minute.”

He sighs. “What can I do?”

“I don’t know.” My eyes burn with unshed tears. “Sit with me and watch a movie. Eat chocolates. Talk about the weather.”

Talk about anything and anyone but Riot.

“Sure thing. Can we watch The Fringe?”

“Again?”

“We haven’t watched it in ages.”

“You mean two weeks.”

“What can I say? Peter Bishop is hot.”

That makes me snicker, and although the tears finally fall, sliding down my cheeks, I know it could have been worse. My best friend is here, and I have chocolate and warm blankets to hide under.