“What’s wrong?” Quinton asks, sensing the change in my demeanor.
I look him dead in the eyes because I know deep down even if he doesn’t want to feel it or acknowledge it, we’re moving into a territory that neither of us will come back from. One of us has to be strong enough to end it before it’s too late.
“We shouldn’t be doing this.” I gesture to the space between us.
“Showering?” He laughs. “Normal people shower, Aspen.”
I glare at him. “That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it. We both know it. There’s no point in ignoring it. Whatever this is between us, it’s growing like a cancer, and if we don’t stop it…”
“What?” he asks, his voice low, so low I almost can’t hear it over the rush of water from the shower. “What will happen?”
“It’ll kill us both,” I say.
I walk out of the shower, water clinging to my hair and skin. The organ in my chest thuds loudly, but I don’t feel it. I can’t believe it took me until now to realize I’m falling in love with my enemy.
I’m falling in love with the villain in my story, and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to let him go. I dry off quickly and tug on the clothes I wore last night. I need to get out of here before Quinton walks out and tries to stop me. The water in the bathroom turns off, and I rush out of the bedroom. I catch a brief glimpse of Ren sitting at the breakfast nook. He doesn’t say anything as I head out the door, and I’m thankful for it.
I can’t keep doing this with Quinton.
He could never love me, and I could never love him.
We’re enemies, and it has to stay that way.