Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

Every place I ignore. Every thing I hide. Every ugly corner.

She holds onto me like I'm a life raft.

It's what she's asking.

This is a huge responsibility.

I have to treat it like one.

"Well?" Her fingers dig into my chest. Her eyes go saucer wide. They bore into mine. Beg for every bit of affection in the world. "Did that help you figure it out?"

Chapter Twenty-Four

Dean

Every molecule of my body screams the same thing.

Somehow, I know this deep in my bones.

I press my palm into Chloe's lower back to pull her closer. "I'm sure."

"But what if I'm sick?"

"I'm still sure."

She stares back at me, assessing my words, looking for cracks.

After what she's been through, I don't blame her.

Hell, after the way I've treated her, I don't blame her.

I don't have a way to convince her.

Talk is cheap.

Sticking around every day is what counts.

But I can't do shit about that at the moment.

"What if I'm dying?" she asks. "What if we only get a year to be together then you have to watch me disappear?"

"Sounds like A Walk to Remember."

Her laugh erases the tension in her expression. "The Nicholas Sparks book?"

"Book? Please. I've only seen the excellent film. Starring certified hottie Mandy Moore."

"Is she a certified hottie?"

"Yeah. But she's no Chloe."

Her lips curl into a smile. "What if we're a Nicholas Sparks movie?"

"Guy in the movie seemed happy."

"So, you're basing your life decisions on a sappy romance writer?"

"I'm not gonna pretend I understand what it means to fall in love with someone with an expiration date. But I can't imagine a universe where I don't want to protect you."