Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

I swallow hard and try to ignore him, but his eyes burn into mine as he speaks. “It’s really unfair for you to look that fucking good when I’m dying here.”

Don’t answer him. Ignore him. Even if he does look unlike his usually put-together self, he’s baiting you. “Dying, huh? Funny… Didn’t think you’d care about just some fuck.”

Now he’s glaring. “Shelli, it isn’t like that, and you fucking know it.”

“I don’t know shit,” I retort, glaring at him. “You don’t say things you don’t mean.”

He throws his hands in the air. “I wasn’t thinking. I was trying to get out of there, Shelli. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it or embarrass you in front of the team or your parents. I’m so sorry for that. I was just trying to keep us to us, and it all backfired. I swear, if you want me to scream from the rooftops that we’re together, I will.”

I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter if there is no future.”

“That’s not fair. You know that’s untrue.”

“Or maybe not. Maybe I am just the girl you’re using, ignoring your feelings so you don’t have to feel them. I get it. It’s easier that way and explains why you don’t feel shit for me.”

“That’s not fucking true,” he sneers, his eyes wild. “I feel a lot for you, Shelli. You don’t just cross my mind—you fucking live there. And I’m not going to have you reduce what we have to nothing because I made a fucking mistake.”

I blink back my tears as I look away, shaking my head. I’m trying to hurt him like he hurt me, which isn’t right. I shouldn’t do that. I’m just so mad, and my parents are against violence. “Whatever, Aiden. Excuse me—”

“I love you, Shelli.” I meet his gaze, and anger ripples through me. “Shit, I shouldn’t have said that now—I know I shouldn’t have. But it’s true. I do.”

“Really? This is when you choose to tell me? Not the many times we were lying in bed or holding each other? Or when we were laughing so hard? Or, hell, any time other than this one where I am spitting mad at you? Really, Aiden?”

“I don’t know what to do, Shelli. You won’t listen to reason.”

I shake my head. “Oh, so you don’t mean it?”

His face is beet red, and I swear I can see his heart beating out of his chest. “What the hell? Yes, I do. This is not the way this is supposed to go!”

I can’t breathe, my heart is aching so badly. Tears burn my eyes as I look away. “You’re right. Just leave me alone, okay?”

“No, I won’t. I won’t give up. I do love you, Shelli Adler. I want you, and I refuse to allow you to let go of what we have.”

“Aiden—”

“Tell me what I have to do. I’ll do anything.”

“Leave me alone,” I say, and then I walk past him, fighting back my tears. He says my name, but I ignore him, opening the door to conference room seven. What I don’t expect is for my dad, Fallon, and Lucas to be sitting with my mom. I look at all their faces and then behind me when the door opens again.

Aiden comes in, looking distraught, but when he sees our parents, he shakes his head. “What the hell is this?”

My mom stands, clasping her hands together. “You two need to talk, and we feel we should do it as a family.”

You’ve. Got. To. Be. Fucking. Kidding. Me.

I turn and glare at him. I can’t believe he did this. “Can’t fight your own battles?”

“No, I had no clue about this,” he snaps back at me, and then he points to our parents. “You guys are crazy if you think this is going down. This is why we didn’t want to tell any of you. You guys always want to help, but we can figure this out. We’re adults.”

Okay, so he didn’t know. “What he said.”

“We just want you guys to be okay,” Fallon says, holding out her palms to us. “You guys are beautiful together. Don’t throw this away.”

“Mom—”

“No disrespect, but what’s happening is between him and me. And it doesn’t matter anyway ’cause I’m leaving for New York to get away from all this crap. I never should have come home,” I snap. I go to turn, but Aiden is blocking my way.

“There was never a question of you going back to New York for a little while, Shell. You know I support you one hundred percent, but you belong at home. You may be mad right now, but you know it doesn’t matter because I am going with you.”

I shake my head and push by him to get out the door so I don’t break down crying. Does he really love me? Seriously, after all the crap he caused, he finally wants to admit it? He’s infuriating! But nothing comes close to the anger I have toward our parents. I stomp up the hall, pissed the hell off. What the hell were they thinking? Did they really think butting in would get us back together? That’s insane and just like them, but still! This isn’t a business deal; this is my heart. His heart.