There was a bitterness in his tone I’d never heard before. But I noticed the pain in it too.
You’re just like everybody else.
I’d said that to him the night before he left. I realized now how hurtful it was, but it was my truth back then. He’d hurt me too. Worse, he left without saying a word.
“Are you mad at me? Are you fucking kidding me?” I shouted. I walked away, fast, and then I was running.
I glanced behind me and saw Cameron keeping pace a few feet away. He was giving me space, but that wasn’t enough. I needed to not see him. I needed another world to live in without him.
Suddenly, I spotted a familiar car slowing down close to me. I ran near to the road, waving my arms. The car stopped and I got in.
In my peripheral, I saw Cameron run toward me, heard him shout my name. I closed the door of the car and forgot about him.
“Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Chung.”
Her grandchildren lived in that area, and it was a very fortunate coincidence that she happened to be driving by.
“Oh, you’re welcome, Kara dear. Do you know who that guy was? He was following you.”
“Maybe he wants to sell me something.”
“Fruit, maybe?” she suggested. “He sure looked handsome, didn’t he?”
When she pulled in front of our shop, I gave her a small smile and slipped out of the vehicle. I waved goodbye and watched my ride drive away. I was about to turn and walk to my house when I saw my car barreling down the street.
Cameron’s death stare was on me as he pulled my car into the lot. He slammed the door closed and headed over to me purposely. His eyes burning with temper.
“Tell me what the fuck you’re trying to prove,” he said quietly. Dangerously.
“I don’t need to prove anything to you. You on the other hand have a lot to prove.”
“He could’ve been a murderer!”
“Could have. But obviously wasn’t because I’m still alive.”
“And you asked him to drop you off at your place. At your place! Now he knows where the hell you live. Don’t you have any fucking self-preservation?”
His eyes were bright with anger. There was a sick kind of satisfaction inside me to see him lose control. For once.
“First of all,” I shot back, “you’re one to lecture me about self-preservation when you were the one who jumped in front of my car! I could’ve run you over and then I would’ve gone to jail!”
He shot me a glare.
“Second of all, I’m not stupid enough to get into just anyone’s car. I knew who the driver was. Third of all, you have no right to tell me what to do.” Suddenly, my mouth felt dry. “You left without a fucking word,” I said. Finally.
He was breathing hard. His eyes had darkened. His walls were up.
“Tell me why the hell you left, Cameron.”
He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on my face.
“Kara,” he said softly.
He sounded so vulnerable, so open, so needy when he was like this. I felt my resolve weakening. He moved closer. Then held my face in his large hands, his thumb stroking my cheek, sliding down to my bottom lip in a caress filled with longing that tightened my throat. “Kara.”
No. But I closed my eyes, my body fighting so hard not to lean against him, not to give in.
“There is no other woman in this world that could drive me to my fucking knees but you.”