“Don’t tell me what my mother would’ve wanted.”
“It’s true,” she begged. “Please. Just come home.”
“Leave, Hope.”
“I can’t. I belong here.” She coughed again, worked up and breathless with panic. “I belong here…with you.”
Graham appeared in the distance, watching me destroy his daughter. He’d hate me forever, but I welcomed that hate because it was the opposite of love.
Opposite of agony.
Hate was survivable.
Stalking toward Hope, I whispered under my breath, “Remember your promise?”
Her eyes searched mine, her hair loose around her shoulders. “What promise?”
“The one where you said you’d leave if I ever asked you to. You swore on your mother.”
My voice deepened on that word. Neither of us had one of those now. But at least, she still had a father. She had family.
I no longer wanted such a thing.
I wanted to be left the hell alone.
Whatever feelings I’d had for her were gone.
She was in love with a man incapable of loving her back.
I warned her.
I told her.
But she didn’t listen.
“Jacob…please don’t.” Her tears tracked glitter paths down her cheeks. “Stop.”
“I’m making you keep that promise, Hope. I’m telling you I can’t do this.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“I don’t care.”
“But I do. I care about you.” She reached for me.
I grabbed her wrists and shoved her hands to her sides. “Don’t touch me. Don’t talk to me. Abide by your promise and leave.”
“Don’t you care that I’m in love with you?” She squirmed in my hold. “Don’t you care you’re breaking my heart?”
“I don’t care about anything anymore.”
I can’t.
I just fucking can’t.
“But what about you? You shouldn’t be alone.”
“I want to be alone.”
She winced, tearing her wrists from my fingers and wrapping arms around her stomach. “I don’t believe that. I want to help you. You need someone to help you. There’s something between us, Jacob. There always has been. You have to feel it too.”
“There’s nothing,” I hissed. “All I need is for you to keep your promise.”
“But—”
“Are you not listening? I can’t do this. Don’t make me fucking do this.” My temper clawed at my voice. I trembled with destruction. I was seconds away from breaking. Of falling to my knees and begging her to help me.
Of admitting that I did need someone.
Someone to take away my pain.
Someone to act like a drug, a blanket, a cure.
My heart didn’t know how to live without such things.
But my mind didn’t know how to survive with them.
I was stuck—locked between opposing, destroying forces—and I would die if she kept pushing me.
Holding her gaze, I growled. “I’m done, do you hear me? Done. There is nothing left for you here.”
More tears flowed down her cheeks, making her even more beautiful. Dark-haired and green-eyed—an empress of misery. “Jacob…”
“Fine. If you won’t go willingly, I’ll force you.” Tearing my gaze from hers, I shouted at Graham lurking in the background. “Take your daughter, Mr. Murphy. Leave.”
Her body turned wild, reaching for me, scratching at my forearm, trying to keep me. “Don’t do this. I’ll go away. I’ll leave for a few days. When I’m better and have stopped coughing, I’ll come back. I’ll give you some space. Then…we’ll go back to being friends. Okay? Just friends. You need a friend, Jacob. Now more than ever. You need me.”
“I don’t need a friend. I’ve always hated that word.”
“You didn’t hate me.”
“Are you so sure about that?” I narrowed my eyes, determined to crush her so she never came back.
She flinched. Goosebumps pebbled her arms. “Please, Jacob. I-I can’t leave you.” Tears rolled round and heavy down her cheeks. “Please, don’t make me leave you.”
Her vulnerability almost ruined me.
Her love so pure. Her care so bright.
It closed a coffin around my already dead soul and threw away the key.
I had no strength left.
I would run like the coward I was.
“Stay. I’ll leave.” Taking a few steps, I glowered at her not to follow.
She didn’t obey. Eyes wide as emeralds, tears as bright as stars, she chased me.
So I did the only thing left.
The last option before she slaughtered me.
Looking past her, I locked gazes with her father. He wouldn’t be on my side, but if he wanted to keep his daughter safe, he’d do this for me. “Graham, I’m seconds away from hurting your daughter. Get her away from me before I do something I’ll regret.”
He broke into a jog. “Don’t you lay a finger on her.”
“Get her off my property then. I want her gone from Cherry River.”
Hope sobbed as her father wrapped his arms around her and tugged her away from me. He death-stared me with fury. “I appreciate you just lost your mother, Jacob, but if you ever speak to Hope or me like that again, I’ll punch you in the goddamn jaw.”
“Noted.” I stayed emotionless. Calmer now that Hope was trapped.
I was safe.
Almost free. “Lucky for you, you won’t have to see me again.”