As if he’s stopping it from doing something.
What, I don’t know.
“I won’t repeat myself another time.”
My breath catches. Just how the hell does he manage to pack so much punch and dominance behind his words?
“Seriously, what do you want from me, Creighton? You pushed me away, didn’t you?”
“And you pushed back.”
“What?” When he remains silent, I insist, “I did no such thing. I put distance between us as you so eloquently instructed. I don’t even text you anymore. This isn’t how it’s supposed to work.”
“This?”
“Scaring me away, then talking to me and volunteering at the shelter I go to. Is this like a game of push and pull or something?”
“Were you scared away?”
“Wasn’t I supposed to be?”
“You were, but I’m surprised it took that little to scare you.”
“Yeah, well, pain frightens me.”
His eyes shine with something similar to…excitement.
And that right there scares the bejesus out of me. It’s not normal excitement like the type I get whenever I go shopping or when I practice ballet. It’s nothing that innocent or harmless.
That look in his eyes is downright demented.
Is he supposed to be thrilled at the prospect of frightening someone?
“Don’t ask Bran or anyone else to be your fake boyfriend,” he repeats, with an edge this time.
“And if I refuse to follow your demands, which are super illogical, by the way?”
He steps closer until his chest nearly brushes against mine and grabs my jaw with his thumb and forefinger, imprisoning me in place. “Then you’ll be acquainted with the pain you’re so scared of.”
7
CREIGHTON
Over the past week, I’ve been on the edge of something dark and absolutely nefarious.
The urge I’ve controlled so well ever since I hit puberty has been seeping into my nightmares, my meal time, and my fighting time.
All my time.
It has heightened, magnified, and reached altitudes that even I am unable to shove into the hollowness of my soul.
And the reason is none other than the girl sitting across from me.
The guardian of her hell, Jeremy, allowed her to spend the night in REU’s dorm. We’re in the apartment she shares with my cousin, the silver angel, and the girl my brother is obsessed with.
Usually, Remi drags me to these nights with a lot of begging and a bribe in the form of fish and chips. Tonight, however, no begging happened.
The fish and chips are nonnegotiable, though.