I wait until she’s gone before I turn back to him.
“What were you going to say before… about letting go?”
His eyes widen a fraction, and unease passes over his face, his eyes dimming.
“I…” His brows pull together. “I came here to tell you….” His eyes meet mine, something in them making me freeze. I focus on him completely, the rest of the world grinding to a stop.
“Tell me what?” I whisper.
He shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut like it’s physically painful to say whatever it is he’s about to.
“Then I saw you. And I… I needed to remember how you felt. I couldn’t tell you without feeling you again.”
“Tell me what?” I ask again, my eyes frantically searching his before he drops his gaze away. Dread creeps into my veins like a disease, spreading sickness through my body.
He can’t even look at me.
He’s rolling his lips together, his jaw set firm, his eyes staring into the distance like he’s lost somewhere.
“Reed?” I beg.
“It’ll be okay, you’ll see. It has to be this way. It’s the only answer.”
“What do you mean?” I reach for him, but instead of taking me into his arms, they stay fixed by his side. I grip the lapels of his jacket, desperate for him to hold me again, to feel his lips on my skin.
“It’s time for a fresh start, Harls.”
I stare into his eyes and see the shine in them. The emotion. The regret. He looks so deeply into mine that I’m afraid I will crumble the second he looks away.
I’m not strong enough.
I want to beg. Fall to my knees and grip him, so he can’t walk away.
So he can’t leave me.
“No,” I choke out, my throat suddenly thick as I struggle to swallow.
He looks at me, giving me the softest, most beautiful smile as he traces a thumb down over my cheek.
“It was never going to last forever, Angel.”
I step back from him, the walls spinning.
“Reed, I—”
“Auntie Lee-Lee!” Emmerson appears next to me, tugging on my arm. “Will you please come and eat with me? I want to tell you about school.”
“Emmerson, I told you to stay in here.”
Suze rushes up the hallway, giving us both an apologetic glance. When I look back at Reed, he has his phone in his hand and is frowning at the screen.
“Are you staying?” Suze asks Reed.
“Sorry, no.” He gives her the smile I instantly recognize as his professional one.
Hisfakeone.
“Something’s come up at work. I need to go.” He looks at Emmerson, holding my sleeve, then leans in, kissing me next to my ear. “I’ll call you,” he whispers.